# Free communications support offered to charities and public sector

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/04/14/free-communications-support-offered-to-charities-and-public-sector/
- Published: 2020-04-14T11:35:21+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**A group of volunteer PR practitioners have launched an initiative to provide free
communications support to charities and public sector organisations that are struggling
against the background of coronavirus, lockdown and staff on furlough.**

 

 

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Launched by Nick Payne and Alex Williams of Roxhill Media and Aceil Haddad, the 
volunteers include RedGem and Latte Recruitment. The Community PR initiative is 
open to other PR professionals keen to offer their services for free.

 

 

 

Nick Payne, VP of Sales at Roxhill, explains:

 

 

 

> “It’s an unprecedented time for our country, and there is a real need for clear
> communications at this time. At Roxhill, we provide PR practitioners and access
> to a comprehensive database of journalist and media contacts. It’s a valuable 
> resource, and at this time we wanted to use it for good, which is why I have approached
> our users to create The Community PR initiative. Our aim is clear, we want to 
> help charities, local authorities and other organisations with support to get 
> their messages out at a critical time for people’s health.” 

 

 

 

To access support, charities, community groups and businesses will be asked to apply
through a simple form. This will then be put forward to the core team, who will 
judge it on one basic criterion – the extent to which it benefits the community.
Successful applications will then be passed to a PR professional.  

 

 

 

Aceil Haddad, co-founder [The Community PR Initiative](http://www.facebook.com/TheCommunityPRinitiative)
PR specialist adds: “Clear messaging has never been more important, be it – #stayathome,
or signposting people to assistance in applying for Universal Credit, signing up
for the Priority Services Register or finding help through domestic violence and
child abuse charities. Households, charities and businesses are under pressure at
this time, with many people looking to help where they can, which is why I was delighted
to join forces with the team at Roxhill to get this project off the ground.  

 

 

 

“This is a temporary arrangement, and volunteering our skills will make these messages
clearer, and help ease the pressure on these organisations. It is also an opportunity
for us as PR professionals to broaden our experience, network and relationships 
with journalists alike.” 

 

 

 

Charities and eligible organisations can [apply for PR support](https://forms.gle/DHvuuqGqjxEzqbv77)
and PR staff can [offer their voluntary services](https://forms.gle/JhWWxds7djka9YLSA).

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