Category Archives: Charity & CSR

Charity & CSR, Healthcare News, News, Swansea

Swansea health charities boosted by Amazon donations

Two charities related to the Swansea Bay University Health Board have received donations totalling £2,000 from the Amazon fulfilment centre in Swansea Bay.

Swansea Bay Health Charity is the official charity of Swansea Bay University Health Board.

Tŷ Olwen Hospice is a specialist palliative care unit within the cancer directorate of the health board. The charities were given £1,000 each to continue facilitating patient care and fund scientific research, training and development.

 

Speaking on the donations, Dan Boulger, Site Leader at Amazon in Swansea, said:

“We are pleased to support Swansea Bay Health Charity and Tŷ Olwen Hospice with donations to continue building our relationship with the Swansea Bay University Health Board. Swansea Bay Health Charity is a great advocate for the needs of the Swansea Bay University Health Board and Tŷ Olwen Hospice is dedicated to making people’s lives easier during difficult days. Everyone on site is appreciative of what the charities do for our community.”

 

Jonathan Michael, an employee from the Amazon fulfilment centre in Swansea, added:

“Swansea Bay Health Charity and Tŷ Olwen Hospice enhance the care given by Swansea’s incredible NHS professionals, meaning that if or when a member of the community is sick, we know we’re receiving the best care possible. I’m so thankful that Amazon is supporting the charities with these donations, and I hope they provide a welcome boost to our hospital staff.”

 

Claire Chubb, from Swansea Bay Health Charity, said:

“We want to say a big thank you to Dan and the Amazon team in Swansea Bay for their contribution to our work. It’s thanks to donations like theirs that we can carry on supporting patients and staff of the Swansea Bay University Health Board.”

 

Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates. Amazon co-founded the Multibank initiative with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support families in need. ‘Cwtch Mawr’ Multibank opened in Swansea this year, with Faith in Families. The initiative has donated more than 4 million surplus goods to over 400,000 families across Wales, Scotland, Greater Manchester, and London.

Amazon has supported more than 700,000 students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.

 

Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.

 

Charity & CSR, Domestic Abuse, Law, News, North of England

Yorkshire law firm works with Leeds charity to provide legal advice

Ison Harrison has experienced significant growth in the number of clients it acts for and recently opened its 20th office in Selby, reaffirming its expansive presence in the region.

To complement this growth and to be able to assist people in more of the communities where the firm has branches, from 1 September Ison Harrison will be providing legal aid support to people suffering from domestic abuse or needing assistance with care proceedings and child arrangement orders.

The legal aid team has been visiting charities and organisations in York, Doncaster, Wakefield, Barnsley, Castleford, Huddersfield and Leeds to advise them of the support that can be provided. In a number of locations, free legal advice clinics and workshops are also being set up.

One such organisation is Wren Bakery, a social enterprise using baking and coffee as tools to give women who experience disadvantages, opportunities towards employment. Parveen Ahmed, who specialises in domestic violence, children and care work and is a resolution accredited specialist in forced marriage and domestic violence, has already been visiting Wren Bakery.

Clare Sanderson, who was one of the original founders of the bakery said: “We work with women who experience multiple disadvantages, many having had traumatic experiences of the court system. We are therefore really excited to be working with Ison Harrison to host free legal advice sessions in our cafe and training base in Mabgate. We have already seen the benefit that Parveen’s advice sessions have had. They provide women with an opportunity to meet in a safe space and get expert advice delivered informally over coffee, allowing them to feel empowered and in control of the decisions they make towards a more hopeful future.”

Three new experienced legal aid solicitors have joined the team to support the rollout of the service.

Damian McDermott has been a solicitor for 26 years and has worked in family care since November 2018, acting for parents across Yorkshire. He previously worked for Jordans Solicitors and is based in the York office.

Prerna Kapoor has been specialising in family law since she qualified in 2016. She has recently relocated to South Yorkshire and will look after family care cases in the Doncaster and Barnsley offices.

Kauser Arshid, who will be based in the Wakefield office, has three years’ experience as a family care solicitor and previously specialised in child abuse law.

Tim Burt, a partner in the family legal aid team, is managing the implementation of the project, said: “We now have 17 legal aid family lawyers across Yorkshire. This means we are able to provide free legal representation to people who need it; through care proceedings, social services involvement, child arrangements cases, or domestic abuse work. Ison Harrison’s commitment to legal aid family work is stronger than ever, and this growth is a great asset for the firm, and for the communities and families we seek to help.”

Ison Harrison will be hosting a free workshop at Wren Bakery in September for people who are suffering from domestic abuse or who need help with care proceedings or child arrangement orders. Contact Ison Harrison for further details and to book a place at the workshop.

Charity & CSR, News, Swansea

From Swansea to Cambridge: Amazon supports UK’s leading heart and lung hospital

The Amazon fulfilment centre in Swansea has donated £1,000 to Royal Papworth Hospital Charity in Cambridge.

The donation follows a request for support from an employee whose sister recently received a heart transplant at Royal Papworth Hospital, which performed the UK’s first successful heart transplant back in 1979 and has continued to be a world leader in heart and lung transplantation.

 

Darrell George is the general manager’s assistant and community ambassador at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Swansea. He’s been part of the team at the site since 2011, when he joined as temporary fulfilment centre employee.

Part of Darrell’s role at Amazon involves supporting organisations local to the fulfilment centre in Swansea, while empowering his colleagues to engage alongside him.

Earlier this year, Darrell attended a national conference in Birmingham with his colleagues from around the UK to discuss Amazon’s community initiatives for the year ahead. The week prior, his sister Hayley had received word that she was eligible to receive a heart transplant at Royal Papworth Hospital.

Spurred on by the content of the conference, Darrell requested that a £1,000 donation be made to Royal Papworth Hospital Charity to help other families like his.

 

Speaking on the importance of the hospital to his family, Darrell said: “Royal Papworth is one of just five hospitals in the UK that performs heart and lung transplants on adults and it performs more than any other UK centre. People come from all over the UK to have surgery at these hospitals, which obviously comes at great cost.

“When she was 17, my sister was diagnosed with a genetic disease called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, which affects the pumping ability of the left ventricle in the heart. In 2022 she found out that she’d need to have a heart transplant, and earlier this year she underwent the surgery to receive one. We are hugely grateful that Hayley was given the opportunity to receive a new heart, and for the surgeons and medical staff who looked after her during the process.

“Royal Papworth Hospital Charity goes a mile further to absorb costs for families that aren’t in the position to afford local accommodation whilst their loved ones are in hospital. I can’t imagine going through the stress of Hayley undergoing surgery and not knowing how I was going to afford the costs of travelling from Wales to Cambridge to look after her. The charity is such a valuable support to people in what can be a really scary situation, and that’s why I wanted to support it.”

 

Alongside the donation from Amazon in Swansea, Darrell supported his nephew as he ran the Swansea Half Marathon to raise money for Royal Papworth Hospital Charity. Robbie George completed the half marathon in under an hour and a half and raised a further £900 for the charity, which was donated alongside Amazon’s £1,000.

 

Shelley Green, Fundraising & Stewardship Manager from Royal Papworth Hospital Charity, said: “Our patients like Darrell’s sister Hayley, their families and our staff are at the heart of everything we do. The Hospital treats some of the most life-threatening conditions within the NHS, and our Charity bridges the gap between NHS funding and the reality of providing outstanding care.

We are humbled that Amazon has contributed to our resources with this fabulous donation which will help patients now and in the future. We also want to say a huge thanks to Darrell, Robbie and Hayley for being huge supporters and requesting the Amazon donation.”

 

Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates. Amazon co-founded the Multibank initiative with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support families in need. ‘Cwtch Mawr’ Multibank opened in Swansea this year, with Faith in Families. The initiative has donated more than 4 million surplus goods to over 400,000 families across Wales, Scotland, Greater Manchester, and London.

 

Amazon has supported more than 700,000 students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.

Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.

Charity & CSR, Fashion, News, Retail & E-commerce, Retail News

Charity Shops are Finally Disrupting the Retail Sector and Gen Z is our Secret Weapon, says

Written by Kate Bishop, Director of Retail and Brand Strategy, Save The Children. 

For too long the charity retail sector has been perceived to be on the outskirts of the mainstream. We’ve made our way into some specific categories with high fashion specialists in the designer second hand market, furniture specialists including up-cyclists becoming more sought after and second-hand high-street fashion taking on the fast fashion labels we have become accustomed to.

Economic and Environmental Strides

We made strides in hard economic times when people realised just how much the charity retail sector can help them to save.

We’ve also benefited enormously as people have become more pro-active and considerate about their contribution to climate change, the life cycle of their purchases and their impact on our planet. This improves our sales as well as our stock take as donations improve in volume and quality.

We also had a great boost from the Mary Portas effect as the “Queen of Shops” showcased the charity shop’s rightful place as the beating heart of the Highstreet and the local community.

However, despite the great progress so far, many of the misperceptions around what charity shopping is all about persist. All too often the idea conjures up images of musty little shop floors loaded with heaps of old tat in disorganised bundles that is hard work to rummage through with very little reward at the end of it. There’s no concept of customer service or an excellent retail experience. No notion of knowledgeable, helpful staff who understand their stock and their customers – on hand with professional service, help and advice. The reality is very different.

A Change in Perception

A change in perception is happening fast. In fact, our progress towards being front of mind for consumers has been rocket fuelled by Generation Z.

Vinted is a great illustration of this transformation in mindset with the second-hand fashion platform reporting profit for the first time with 61% year-on-year growth for 2023, net profit of 17.8 million Euro. It is a fantastic reflection of a wider trend. Younger generations don’t want to boast about their latest designer labels. Rather, they are proud to shout about their pre-loved outfit that was a bargain find.

And it’s not just customer behaviour that is breaking the mould. Generation Z’s values are a core driver not just for what they buy and how they consume, but also where they work.

According to Glassdoor, Gen Z full time employees will overtake the number of baby boomers in the workplace in 2024. And Deloitte’s 2023 survey of 22,000 Gen Zs and millennials, highlights that lifestyle and career decisions are made based on values for these generations. This goes for all aspects of their lives, which is why we’re seeing such a charity boom.

No Competition

As someone who made the move from mainstream retail to the charity retail sector some eight years ago, I can honestly say I have never been more excited about the generational shift that we are seeing in consumer behaviour and recruitment.

The truth is – we have so much to offer that traditional retailers should beware. The revolution is coming and we are at the forefront. Retail is a fantastic career opportunity for aspirational, talented and creative people but let’s face it – much of the retail sector, including fashion, is formulaic. Each new exciting trend is really just the same, same but different. This year the new red is pink. Skinny cut is out, flares are (back) in.  It’s recycling of ideas and processes, whereas recycling of stuff is at the cutting edge of fashion in 2024.

For an ambitious and talented retail employee, the charity retail sector is a way to really make your mark with free reign in creative direction. You can choose how to run your store. No two days are the same. You choose your star product and accessories. The magic happens when you spot a hero item and build your vision around it.

And we have the power of the other stars of the high street alongside us. Take our East Dulwich store with its brilliant community collaboration with local artist Will Vibes.

Career Support to Grow and Thrive

It should come as no surprise that our ethos is about giving back. We have invested in world class training and learning and development for our employees. Our collaboration with game-based training simulation specialists Attensi is second to none. From onboarding to management – training and support is available on demand with impactful feedback. We’re encouraging best practices that align with our core values as well as our strategic KPIs. We are also nourishing creative talent and personal development journeys.

Conclusion

Out with the old and in with the new is taking on a whole new meaning in the charity retail revolution and Generation Zs are blazing the trail. Old is the new new and it is an exciting ride. Watch out mainstream – we are coming.

 

About the author

Kate Bishop is Director of Retail and Brand Strategy for Charity, Save The Children.  Save the Children is the world’s leading children’s charity, working in 120 countries.

Charity & CSR, Charity News, Marketing & PR, News

Shropshire boxing charity shares vital message in new video thanks to local agency scheme

Shropshire boxing charity, Brightstar, has launched a powerful new video campaign after winning free marketing support from local marketing agency, Reech, as part of a community scheme.

Brightstar, which is dedicated to empowering young people through boxing, education and mentoring, has unveiled the video to challenge its perception of being “just a boxing club”. The video showcases the holistic approach the charity takes, offering not just boxing training but also vital education and mentorship programmes.

It also highlights the crucial role Brightstar plays in the local community, guiding young people down a positive path, unlocking their potential, and helping tackle the mental health challenges they may face. This comes after the charity was crowned winner of Reech’s ‘Reech & Reward’ scheme, which is run annually and awards £10,000 worth of marketing services to one charity.

First created in 2022, Reech & Reward sees local charitable organisations participate in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch to a panel of marketing experts, with support for the winning charity including anything from strategy and branding advice to website and digital marketing consultancy, as well as creating video and photography content.

Prior to creating the video, which received a heartwarming reception when it was showcased at Brightstar’s annual celebration night, the charity also worked with Reech to refine its brand positioning and visual identity.

 

Speaking about the partnership with Reech, Joe Lockley, Brightstar’s founder, said: “We thoroughly enjoyed working with Reech on this video. To finally have a clear and concise portrayal of everything we do for young people in one video is absolutely fantastic.

“It’s not just about boxing, it’s about providing a safe space for young people to grow, learn, and develop life skills. This video captures the essence of our mission and shows the world how we’re making a difference.”

 

Rob Hughes, founder and managing director of Reech, added: “Working with Brightstar and seeing firsthand the impact they have on young people’s lives has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and we’re proud to support such a dedicated organisation to help them share their story with the wider community.

“Our aim with the Reech & Reward scheme is to give back to the community by helping charities like Brightstar amplify their message and reach more people. We look forward to continuing our partnership and supporting Brightstar’s mission to empower and uplift the youth in our community and beyond.”

 

Reech was founded in 2009 with a mission to help brands thrive in a dynamic landscape. The agency provides a full-service approach to marketing, incorporating branding and visual identity, content creation, design and creative, digital marketing, photography and videography, web design and development and full marketing strategy and planning.

 

For more information, visit: www.reech.agency and www.brightstarboxing.co.uk

Africa, Charity & CSR, Conservation, News, Tech

Walk on the Wild Side: Juice gears up to walk 23,000 steps to help end animal exploitation

Leading tech accessories brand Juice is excited to announce its upcoming involvement in a fundraising event for international wildlife charity, the Born Free Foundation.

Having recently collaborated with Born Free for the launch of its new and exclusive ‘Animals’ range, Juice is now taking part in the charity’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ campaign, created specifically to help end the exploitation of lions.

On Friday 9th August – the day before World Lion Day – the Juice team will be walking 23,000 steps to represent the 23,000 lions left in the wild, with all funds being donated towards vital projects including anti-poaching initiatives, habitat restoration and community education.

Jolyon Bennett, founder and CEO of Juice said: “At Juice, we believe in harnessing our resources and community to support important causes. The vital work that the Born Free Foundation does aligns perfectly with our own values, so we’re excited to contribute towards their efforts through taking part in this fundraising campaign.

“The Walk on the Wild Side initiative is a powerful reminder of the precarious situation facing many species today. With only 23,000 lions left in the wild, immediate action is required to ensure their survival and end their captive exploitation. By participating in this event, Juice aims to not only raise much-needed funds but also awareness about the plight of these majestic creatures.

“We invite all of our employees, customers and the general public to support this noble cause and join us in making a difference. Whether it’s by joining the walk, spreading the word, or donating, every action counts!”

 

For the last 40 years, Born Free has worked tirelessly to protect threatened species and end the suffering of individual animals. The charity opposes the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaigns for a future where animals and people can coexist, for the benefit of all life on earth.

Similarly, Juice maintains the mantra of “doing the right thing” for the planet and has focused on its sustainability efforts over the last few years. Now, the Banbury based manufacturer is looking to extend this collective action and collaborate with a like-minded organisation in trying to make the world a better place.

 

Juice is already contributing 20% of all profits from its cute and colourful ‘Animals’ range – based around the critically endangered and legally protected Giant Panda, Sumatran Tiger, Grevy’s Zebra and Snow Leopard – to the Born Free Foundation since the collection of charging cables, speakers and headphones launched in April this year.

For more information about joining or donating to this cause, please visit: https://bornfree.enthuse.com/pf/juicers

Appointments, Charity & CSR, Law, News

Laytons ETL promotes Simrun Garcha to private client and charities partner

Laytons ETL, the City of London-based international commercial law firm, has promoted Simrun Garcha to the position of partner in its private client and charities team. Previously an associate partner, Ms Garcha has been with Laytons ETL since joining as a trainee in 2012.

Ms Garcha, who qualified as a solicitor in 2014, specialises in estate planning, probate, trust and charity law. She is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), and a member of the Charity Law Association and the Association of Contentious Probate Practitioners.

Her expertise includes estate planning for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, setting up and administering trusts, and dealing with probate and succession, including cross border estates. She also advises charities and trustees on a broad range of governance issues.

Commenting on her promotion, Ms Garcha said, “The private client and charities team at Laytons ETL is highly respected both by our peers and our clients. We work on some genuinely fascinating, highly complex matters and, as a partner, I am really looking forward to continuing to build my practice and support the team’s work.”

In tandem with Ms Garcha’s promotion, longstanding partner Ian Burman has returned full-time to the role of head of Laytons ETL’s private client and charities team. Mr Burman, who founded the department in 1989, stepped back from the head of department role last year to focus on his own practice.

He has now returned to spearhead growth across Laytons ETL’s private client and charities department, as the firm embarks on an expansion drive.

Mr Burman is a leading authority in private client and charity law, and was chair of the London Central Branch of STEP from 2007 to 2011. He was a STEP committee member for 20 years.

Both Mr Burman and Ms Garcha are co-authors of Tolley’s Administration of Estates, the leading legal textbook in the field of estate administration.

In common with the rest of the firm, many of the matters handled by the private client and charities department are international in nature. In addition to its capabilities in estate planning and administration, contentious and non-contentious probate, trusts and charities law, the team is also able to call on the expertise of the firm’s tax practice, led by head of tax Marc Selby.

Ian Burman said, “The private client and charities team at Laytons ETL has undergone significant expansion and, with stretching but exciting growth targets in place firm-wide, it now feels like the right time to return to the head of department role. We have an incredibly strong team, with a wide range of capabilities, and are in a great position to take advantage of the many growth opportunities we are creating firm-wide.

“I would also like to congratulate Simrun on her well-deserved promotion to partner. I know she will play a key role in the continued development of our practice over the years ahead.”

Charity & CSR, News

Felix’s Multibank: new service led by The Felix Project will redistribute 400,000 surplus essentials donated by Amazon and other businesses to help 40,000 families in need across London

  • New London site is an expansion of the Multibank network, co-founded by Gordon Brown and Amazon, which has donated more than 3 million essential goods to help over 400,000 UK families 
  • Felix’s Multibank is backed by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, and the US Ambassador to the UK, Jane Hartley
  • Since 2020, Amazon has supported The Felix Project’s food redistribution work, donating more than 10m meals, providing weekly logistics support, and a £500,000 donation towards a new depot in South London

A new charity initiative is launching in West London to donate more than 400,000 surplus essential goods to 40,000 families in need across the capital over the next 12 months. London’s first Multibank, ‘Felix’s Multibank’, is led by The Felix Project, with support from Amazon, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

The service will help families experiencing poverty by providing essentials like toiletries, baby products, cleaning goods and bedding donated by Amazon, and other national and regional businesses. It is an expansion of the Multibank network, co-founded by Gordon Brown and Amazon, which has now donated more than 3 million essential goods to help over 400,000 families from Multibanks currently operating in Scotland, Greater Manchester, and Wales.

Felix’s Multibank builds on The Felix Project’s established work rescuing high quality surplus food that would otherwise have gone to waste and redistributing it to vulnerable Londoners through a network of charities, schools and community groups. Distribution partners for Felix’s Multibank include Little Village, Trussell Trust, Lambeth Healthy Living Platform, Surplus to Supper, and St Raphael’s Family Wellbeing Centre.

The project has drawn support from the Mayor of London who has committed £250,000 to help with running costs for the London site. Additional funding has been provided through the Multibank Fund, established with £1 million of seed funding from Amazon and Comic Relief, to help finance the expansion of Multibanks in areas of need across the UK.

Amazon helped to establish the warehouse operations, five Amazon employees will work on-site for the first full year of operation, and the company will provide logistics support to transport the donations to community organisations across London.

The Mayor of London continues to work with The Felix Project as well as the Mayor’s Fund for London to provide free holiday meals to hundreds of thousands of London families. Earlier this year, the Mayor announced a further £4m in funding to continue his programme that has already provided more than 12.3m free meals to families during schools holidays and at weekends.

Charlotte Hill OBE, CEO, The Felix Project, said: “Every day The Felix Project is helping to provide healthy and nutritious meals to people in need across London, but we know it is not just food they want. For those on low incomes all items are a struggle to afford, from toiletries and cleaning products to bedding and other household goods. Thanks to this incredible partnership, Felix’s Multibank will be able to ensure our network of community organisations can provide more of the things people need and just as importantly prevent perfectly usable items from going to waste.”

 

Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister, said: “As I go round the country, I find too many children growing up in homes without heating, bedrooms without beds, floors without floor coverings, kitchens without kitchen utensils and bathrooms without soap, shampoo or toothpaste. Having gained experience from the benefits to families of our Multibanks in Scotland, the North West of England and Wales we are delighted now to work with The Felix Project who have such a strong reputation for doing good in the capital. Felix’s Multibank will be able to take a holistic view of the overall need of the families they serve and provide some of the non-food basics for those in greatest need across London. We are grateful to the companies and foundations who are supporting the Multibanks and to The Felix Project for joining with us to make the roll out in London possible.”

 

John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager, Amazon, said: “Since 2020, we have supported The Felix Project’s mission to fight food waste and hunger with more than 10 million meals, as well vans and drivers to transport food to Londoners in need every week. Through Felix’s Multibank, we will help many more vulnerable families across London by providing surplus essentials from Amazon and other businesses to those who need them most. We’ve already supported more than 400,000 families from our existing Multibanks, giving those experiencing poverty access to the essentials they need while contributing to a more circular economy.”

 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It is shocking that in a city as prosperous as ours so many people are being forced to go without essentials. By funding Felix’s first Multibank in London we will help those who need it most by providing essentials including baby clothes, food and toiletries all in one place. I’m determined to do all I can to make London a city where every young person can thrive and by supporting families we will help build a fairer London for all.” 

 

Jane Hartley, US Ambassador to the UK, said: “Lifting up the most vulnerable when they are down, and equipping our children and youth with resources as they grow – these are key elements to our countries’ prosperity.  In both the United States and the United Kingdom, the statistics on families experiencing poverty are concerning.  We have our work cut out for us, but we are most powerful when we combine the reach of government with the innovation of the private sector.  I admire my friends at Amazon, and Gordon Brown, for coming up with local solutions and finding ways to bring the private, non-profit, and public sectors together. Felix’s Multibank is an inspiration for the kind of innovative partnerships we need to see.”

Felix’s Multibank is the fourth Multibank established in the UK by Gordon Brown and Amazon. The first Multibank launched in Fife, Scotland in 2022, followed by a second site in Wigan, Greater Manchester in 2023, and a third in Swansea in March, 2024.

The launch of Felix’s Multibank follows a four-year partnership between Amazon and The Felix Project. Since 2020, Amazon has donated over 10 million meals to help the charity fight hunger in London, and provides drivers and vans to transport food donations across London every week. Earlier this year, Amazon donated £500,000 to fund a new South London depot to help The Felix Project meet increasing levels of food insecurity across London, with the charity expecting to deliver more than 35 million meals in 2024. Employees across Amazon also regularly volunteer in Felix’s depots and kitchens.

Charity & CSR, London, London News, News

Rimini Street Announces the 2024 RMNI LOVE™ £50,000 Grant Programme Winners

Five UK-based charities selected to each receive £10,000 grants from the Rimini Street Foundation to support families and communities in the London region

Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support, products and services, the leading third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP software, and an AWS partner, today announced the winners of its third annual RMNI LOVE™ Grant Programme, each receiving £10,000 to further their significant impact for their respective communities served.

The final winners of the programme were Children Ahead, Fight Against Blindness (FAB), Parenting Special Children (PSC), Room to Heal, and The Vavengers.

 

“In our third year of celebrating and sharing our RMNI LOVE through our special grant programme, we selected London as the city to host this spectacular giving opportunity,” said Janet Ravin, founder and committee chair of the Rimini Street Foundation. “Receiving so many worthy nominations and having to select only five is truly a difficult process, as each are impactful and extraordinary in their mission. We are humbled to gain deeper understanding of the needs of the London community, and are grateful for the opportunity to alleviate the challenges through our grants, and offer greater hope to those who need a hand up, now and into the future.”

 

How the Grant Winners Were Selected

The rigorous process of selecting the top five charities to receive the grant administered by the Rimini Street Foundation – the privately funded charitable program of Rimini Street, Inc. and its global subsidiaries – involved a three-tiered qualification, elimination and voting method. The first round of reviews was conducted by select team members from the UK region, then by all of the regional Committee Members that represent the diverse cultures and backgrounds of Rimini Street colleagues, and finally by the Committee Chair, Committee Lead and Committee Secretary.

 

Meet the 2024 RMNI LOVE Grant Winners

 

Children Ahead – Founded in 2010 by parents of children with differently-abled learning capabilities, Children Ahead addresses the need for specialised support services. Its goal is to improve children’s long-term education, health, and employment outcomes by preventing and reducing the impact of untreated mental health problems and equipping children with essential skills. The £10,000 grant will fund 12 psychotherapy sessions for 20 vulnerable children, along with mentoring and befriending programs for 20 children in crisis

 

Fight Against Blindness (FAB) – FAB was established in 2008 and helps children and young people with sight loss and visual impairment (VI), across the UK, to reach their full potential – educationally and socially. Its work addresses barriers, helps to build confidence, and provides practical tools to support well-being. The grant will pay for specialised psychologists to give 1:1 sessions to approximately 65 children and young people affected by sight loss, directly improving young Londoners’ mental health and wellness.

 

Room to Heal – Room to Heal supports refugees and people seeking asylum from over 30 countries overcoming the traumas of torture, trafficking, and a myriad of human rights violations. Its mission is to provide tailored support to give survivors the best possible chance of rebuilding their lives and thriving in their healing journey. The £10,000 grant will be used to provide holistic support programmes, mental healthcare, casework, and community support.

 

Parenting Special Children (PSC) – PSC provides specialist parenting support to parents and carers of children and young people with special needs and early life trauma. Their mission is to create positive, long-lasting, and resilient change in the lives of those who need it. Since its launch in 2006, the charity continues to provide specialist parenting support and tackles multiple adversities such as social isolation, low self-esteem, stress and anxiety, sleep issues, child-to-parent violence, mental health crisis, and financial pressures. The £10,000 grant will be used to support several life-changing projects and run workshops in different languages to vulnerable families.

 

The Vavengers – This survivor-led organisation stands with and for every woman affected by Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and other forms of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The Vavengers were founded in 2014 by a group of survivors and activists who wanted to raise awareness and end FGM/C together, aiming to educate, collaborate, aid and empower. Its work includes providing community outreach hubs for vulnerable females, leading educational workshops for businesses and organisations, and running national and international campaigns to ensure FGM/C and VAWG are on the political and social agenda.

 

Learn more about the Rimini Street Foundation and the 525+ charities supported to date, and enjoy highlights from the 2023 RMNI LOVE Grant Day Celebration hosted during the Street Smart client event in Tokyo, Japan with hundreds of executives in attendance.

 

About Rimini Street, Inc.

Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a Russell 2000® Company, is a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support, products and services, the leading third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP software, and an AWS partner. The Company has operations globally and offers a comprehensive family of unified solutions to run, manage, support, customize, configure, connect, protect, monitor, and optimize enterprise application, database, and technology software, and enables clients to achieve better business outcomes, significantly reduce costs and reallocate resources for innovation. To date, over 5,500 Fortune 500, Fortune Global 100, midmarket, public sector, and other organisations from a broad range of industries have relied on Rimini Street as their trusted enterprise software solutions provider.

To learn more, please visit riministreet.com, and connect with Rimini Street on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. (IR-RMNI)

Charity & CSR, Marketing & PR, News

Trekstock Celebrates 15th Anniversary with Inspiring, Disruptive Rebrand

Cancer Charity Unveils New Visual Identity and Partnerships to Further Support Young People Living Alongside Cancer

Trekstock, a leading UK charity supporting people in their 20s and 30s facing cancer, announces a significant rebrand in conjunction with its 15th anniversary. The bold new rebrand, which includes a new visual identity, brand messaging, and strategic partnerships, is aimed at strengthening the charity’s impact and outreach as the number of young people living with a cancer diagnosis continues to rise.

Being diagnosed with cancer during an era defined by personal exploration and life milestones presents unique challenges. The powerful rebrand developed by ODA Branding , centres around the concept of “a life of parallels”, acknowledging the coexistence of the conflicting emotions, needs, and experiences that young people with cancer encounter. The new strapline ‘life alongside cancer’ shifts the focus away from the more traditional, pessimistic cancer-care narrative and brings it back onto how to live with and beyond cancer when diagnosed during the prime of your life.

In creating the rebrand, ODA Branding interviewed the Trekstock community about their life after a cancer diagnosis, learning what they wanted and needed, embedding their voices into the new brand. Whether someone’s just beginning their career, has young children, or simply doesn’t have the security net around them that those younger or older will have, Trekstock new brand became definitively for them.

Sophie Epstone, CEO and Founder of Trekstock, said, “When Trekstock launched 15 years ago, 34 young people were diagnosed with cancer every day. Today, that figure has risen to 38 and we are determined to support every single one of them, from the point of diagnosis. To achieve this, becoming more relatable to young people is key.

She continued: “Thanks to the combined efforts of ODA Branding and our community, we now have a powerful and modern brand identity that we feel truly represents us and will support our mission. We are also so grateful for the pro-bono support received from &above, who brought this rebrand to life with a stunning new website that perfectly captures our vision.”

Founded in 2009, award-winning charity Trekstock is the UK’s only charity providing wellbeing support services for those diagnosed with cancer in their 20s or 30s – an underserved group whose needs are not met through mainstream cancer charities. Trekstock provides them with the tools they need to get moving physically, socially and psychologically when cancer stops them in their tracks.

Rachel Roxburgh, Chair of Board of Trustees at Trekstock said: “The ‘forgotten cohort’ of those diagnosed with cancer in their 20s or 30s is often overlooked as it comprises of neither children nor older cancer patients whose needs are met through dedicated mainstream cancer charities. We are working towards a future where everyone in their 20s or 30s hearing the words ‘it’s cancer’ is offered our tried and tested, evidence-based support. Today’s rebrand will bring us closer to realising this vision.”