Category Archives: Charity & CSR

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.”

Charity & CSR, Edinburgh, News, Social Housing

University of Edinburgh invests further £1m to tackle homelessness

 University of Edinburgh invests further £1 million through Social and Sustainable Capital to enable UK charities and social enterprises to provide homes for service users

The University of Edinburgh has announced further investment of £1 million in a social housing fund. Managed by Social and Sustainable Capital, the SASH II fund loans charities and social enterprises the finance to purchase residential properties, which are then leased to people at risk of homelessness.

The University hopes to build on the success of its previous £1 million investment in the first Social and Sustainable Housing Fund (SASH I), which raised £64.5 million and supported 20 social impact organisations across the UK.

SASH II aims to continue the success of the first fund, helping more organisations to provide decent homes for vulnerable people.

Over £35 million has been committed to date, with The Scottish National Investment Bank investing £15 million for allocation to Scottish organisations.

 

Life-changing impact across Scotland 

The Scottish organisations supported by the SASH I portfolio were Simon Community Scotland, the Positive Steps Partnership and the social enterprise Homes for Good Glasgow.

Using a £5 million loan from SASH I, Simon Community Scotland purchased 15 properties across Edinburgh, providing affordable accommodation for up to 30 vulnerable adults at risk of homelessness.

 

This has been life-changing for Greig, a tenant of the Simon Community Scotland Homes scheme in Edinburgh (pictured above). He said, “Having a new home has changed my life in so much of a great way. I’ve got so much freedom to go out walking, to do my artwork – and I feel it’s helping with my mental health as well.

 

Dundee’s Positive Steps Partnership, is a charity helping ex-offenders and adults suffering drug addiction to transition from prison release to independent living. The £1.8 million investment from SASH I enables the Positive Steps Partnership to purchase 30 properties across Dundee for its service users.

Homes for Good Glasgow is an award-winning social enterprise, using the £3.5 million loan from SASH I to purchase 47 properties in Glasgow and Ayrshire, providing quality rented accommodation for people living with mental health issues, family breakdown and recovery from drug dependency.

 

Investing for social good 

Announced in 2019, the University’s Social Investment Fund has invested £8 million in funds that deliver a social benefit alongside a traditional financial return.

Dave Gorman, Director of Social Responsibility and Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh said, “As values-driven institutions with commitments to social and civic responsibility, universities can use their finances to address social issues, whilst generating a return on investment. That has been the mission of our Social Investment Fund.   We are delighted to support SASH II, having seen the positive impact that affordable housing can bring to vulnerable people here in our city and across Scotland.

 

Mark Bickford, CEO of Social and Sustainable Capital said, “We are looking forward to building on the success of SASH I with fantastic, people-first organisations – all delivering significant social impact. We’re pleased to receive further investment from the University of Edinburgh, which demonstrates the potential of universities as social impact investors.

 

Alongside the University and the Scottish National Investment Bank, investors in SASH II include Better Society Capital, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Church of England’s Social Impact Investment Programme, Ceniarth, and Ogelsby Charitable Trust.

For more information on SASC visit: www.socialandsustainable.com

 

Bridgend, Charity & CSR, Education, News, Swansea

City schools supported by Amazon Swansea

The team from Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Swansea has made donations totalling £2,000 to two primary schools in the region.

Portmead Primary School in Portmead and Brynmenyn Primary School in Bridgend received £1,000 each to continue providing positive and inclusive learning communities for children in Swansea.

Michael James, Expressive Arts Lead at Portmead Primary School, said the donation to the school will be used to support learners in developing their skills across digital media platforms with the purchase of electronic equipment.

 

Dan Boulger, Site Leader at Amazon in Swansea, said:

“Schools are fundamental for providing nurturing and inspiring environments where pupils can fulfil their potential. It’s important to all of us at Amazon that we invest in the individuals and places that contribute to children’s daily lives and help benefit future generations; that’s why Portmead Primary School and Brynmenyn Primary School are so deserving of these donations.”

 

Darrell George, an employee from Amazon in Swansea, said:

“Portmead and Brynmenyn are vibrant schools that empower children to find their passion. I’ve found it very fulfilling supporting these local schools through Amazon, as it’s showed me the value I bring to my community and encourages me to help more people.”

Allison Evans, Headteacher of Portmead Primary School, added:

“By donating to our school, you are helping young people build valuable qualities for success in both their academic and personal lives. We are very grateful to Dan, Darrell and the Amazon team for thinking of us.”

 

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 poverty. The Multibank ‘Cwtch Mawr’ opened in Swansea this year, with Faith in Families, providing surplus essentials, donated by Amazon and others, directly to those in need. The initiative aims to support more than more than 40,000 families across South Wales.

Amazon has supported more than 500,000 students across the UK with free computer science and STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer. Amazon 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 to help people tackle poverty 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 struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and tackle issues such as homelessness, mental health problems, and food insecurity across the UK, and around the world.

 

Images: Children at Portmead Primary School

Charity & CSR, Housing, News, Social Housing

SASC invests £1.415 million in Ara Recovery for all to fund properties to house vulnerable homeless people in Bristol

Ara Recovery for all (Addiction Recovery Agency), a UK charity working with people who are experiencing addiction and mental health issues in Bristol, the South West and Wales, has received a social investment loan of £1.415 million from Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) to buy properties to house single homeless people.  Ara is Bristol City Council’s (BCC) key provider of specialist services for people with addiction issues.

This transformative loan from SASC’s Community Investment fund, will enable them to purchase 15 one-bed properties around Bristol for vulnerable people experiencing homelessness, through the Housing First model of care, an evidence-based model which is highly effective at ending homelessness for people with multiple and complex needs[i].

SASC’s loan will contribute half the overall funding Ara requires to buy the properties, alongside a capital grant from the Government’s Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP)[ii].

Bristol has the third highest homelessness population in the UK, and according to Shelter on any given night in 2022, just shy of 3,000 people in Bristol were homeless[iii]. Also, the latest Government figures show the number of people sleeping rough in Bristol increased 16% – with an estimated 67 people sleeping rough in 2023 compared to 58 in 2022[iv].

Graham England, CEO, Ara Recovery

Graham England, CEO at Ara Recovery for All said: “There is an acute need for housing for vulnerable people in Bristol who are homeless and demand for our services is growing. Our housing teams work with Bristol’s homeless population, those released from prison and individuals with drug and alcohol addiction, providing ‘hope and better lives’ for people through a high level of individual contact and care.

“The SASC loan, together with the SHAP funding, will allow us to pursue a property ownership and housing first strategy. Without this we would be reliant on the private rental sector and other social landlords, and unable to offer the intensive support our client’s need.

“The properties will give homes to people who have a history of entrenched or repeat rough sleeping, often with multiple and serious support needs, for which traditional homelessness approaches have not been successful. Our teams will support them to recover from drugs and alcohol, attain independence and maintain stable housing.”

Mark Bickford, CEO of SASC said: “The CIF loan is our first investment in Bristol and will enable Ara to offer those most in need a home alongside vital support, which is an essential first step on the journey of rebuilding their confidence and offering psychological safety to people with multiple, overlapping needs.”

For more information on Ara Recovery for all  visit: www.recovery4all.co.uk

For more information on SASC visit: www.socialandsustainable.com

—

References

[i] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/housing-first-pilot-national-evaluation-reports/mobilising-housing-first-toolkit-from-planning-to-early-implementation#introduction-and-overview

[ii] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/single-homelessness-accommodation-programme/single-homelessness-accommodation-programme-prospectus-and-guidance-outside-of-greater-london

[iii] https://epigram.org.uk/homelessnessinbristole-features/

[iv] https://emmausbristol.org.uk/news/street-homelessness-up-by-16-in-bristol/

Business News, Charity & CSR, News

Perane Introduces Historic Legacy Search Service for Charities With One-Stop-Shop Approach

Inheritance recovery specialists Perane have unveiled a new one-stop-shop approach to streamline the coordination required between charities, executors and financial institutions where legacies are divided between a number of organisations.

The aim of the new service is to simplify processes when an individual leaves a residual estate to be divided between various charitable organisations.

If only one or two charities are the beneficiaries the process is relatively straightforward. However, more often than not, it can involve between six to ten different organisations and sometimes more, making the repatriation of funds time consuming and complex.

Specialists Perane and Co will now act as a one-stop-shop for the identification of unclaimed assets, act as a co-ordinator between the various charities and, at the same time, a single point of contact with the executor and financial institutions – simplifying communications and removing the stress from legacy managers and professional or lay executors.

 

Bruce Cane, CEO of Perane, (pictured above) says: “We work with the charities in order to facilitate the disbursement of these legacies. When it involves multiple beneficiaries, it is usual practice for one charity to take the lead and co-ordinate with the remaining parties.

“But navigating a process with increases in the workload for already overstretched and understaffed charities is difficult, which is why Perane can now offer this as a one-stop-shop service, removing stress from all parties involved.”

 

Utilising its in-depth knowledge of the dormant asset landscape and resources, Perane is able to source all the documentation, handle the paperwork and communications between the relevant charities and the executor, providing a professional service to all parties.

 

Cane adds: “We understand that in many cases charities are unfamiliar with what we do because this is new ground for them. Because of the technology we have developed at Perane, we are able to recover assets missed by the executors in the original winding up of an estate.

“There are huge sums involved in lost and dormant legacies, with an estimated £50bn held by financial institutions in unclaimed or lost assets. Perane has recovered and distributed £20m so far, with more funds being identified all the time.

“Our pioneering software enables us to search previously inaccessible databases showing deceased share and pension ownership. To date, we have identified more than £2m left to charitable organisations and we work hard to repatriate unclaimed assets to the charities they were left to.

“We’re always happy to talk to all charities and executors to see if we can facilitate the speedy disbursement of these funds to the organisations they were left to.”

 

If you’d like to know more about Perane, visit our website at https://perane.co.uk/ or call us on 01603 673260.