Ethos public relations Manchester

Scottish Parliament welcomes credit union expansion

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:49 +0000

MSPs from across the parties have welcomed the announcement of a major new project that is set to transform the credit union sector over the next two years. The ambitious Credit Union Expansion Project is being managed by the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd (ABCUL) and aims to attract up to a million more people across Scotland, England and Wales into credit union membership. The UK Government – with cross-party support – has agreed to invest up to £38 million in the sector, which could ultimately save consumers almost £1 billion in loan interest repayments. MSPs debated a Motion on Wednesday (19 June) tabled by John Wilson MSP (SNP, Central Scotland) which welcomes this exciting new project and “considers that the project will be of significant benefit to credit unions in Scotland by helping them to upgrade their systems”. The Motion was supported by more than 40 MSPs from across the four main parties.In Scotland, just over 100 credit unions already serve over 280,000 people who are saving more than £210 million and borrowing £180 million, and Scottish credit union membership has grown by 47% over the last five years.ABCUL Chief Executive Mark Lyonette (pictured) said: “We will be supporting credit unions to offer a much wider range of great value products to many more members from a broad range of income groups. “Consumers will soon be able to benefit from the latest online technology to sign up to credit union services such as current accounts, budgeting products and Cash ISAs. A centralised hub will automate the delivery of products so that members can also access credit union services through secure connections to other networks.“Credit unions will retain their local status and community focus, but work together where they can benefit from pooling knowledge and resources. This will give members the best of both worlds.”The first wave of 31 credit unions to join up has now been announced and includes many larger and fast growing credit unions. Two Scottish credit unions are in the first phase of the project, with more due to join in the next stages later this year. Credit unions are expected to serve an extra one million members across Britain within five years.Mark Lyonette added: “This is a landmark project for credit unions and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which will help to place the credit union movement in Scotland on a similar footing to leading credit union movements around the world.”

Norwegian Shanty Singers hit Liverpool

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:15 +0000

The Baltic Fleet pub on Liverpool Waterfront will live up to its name as it hosts a concert by sea shanty singers fresh in from the Baltic region. Norwegian sea shanty singers Risør Shantykor will be in Liverpool as guests of the regular Sea Shanty Sessions held at the historic sailors’ pub. Made up of 10 singers from the Norwegian town of Risør which, like Liverpool, is famous for its seafaring tradition and ship building, Risør Shantykor will perform in both Norwegian and English. Risør Shantykor will be joined by hosts Trimrig and a Doxy and regular singers and musicians from Liverpool and across the North West in the informal atmosphere of the back bar. All are welcome to the ‘spiritual heart of the sea shanty’ and entrance is free, but a contribution to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution will be welcome. Come prepared to join in the choruses or even sing a shanty yourself! Saturday, 13th July 2013 8.30 pm - The Baltic Fleet, Wapping, Liverpool L1 8DQYou can find out more about the monthly Sea Shanty Sessions at www.liverpoolseashanty.co.uk

Laserase Bolton backs acne awareness month

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:14 +0000

Laserase Bolton, the region’s leading laser and skin health centre, is backing acne awareness month, which takes place in June, to help raise awareness about the often serious impact acne can have on people’s lives. A large proportion of the population suffers from acne at some point in their lives. Acne generally goes within five years, but for some people it will continue into adulthood – and if the acne is severe it may lead to scarring if not treated appropriately.An estimated 80 per cent of people between the ages of 11 and 30 have acne outbreaks, but many of us are unaware that people in their forties and fifties still get acne too. Julie Kershaw, Clinic Manager at Laserase Bolton, said: “People often underestimate the impact of acne on the lives of those who suffer from it – writing it off as a teenage problem. But many of the people we see at Laserase Bolton are adults who have dealt with persistent acne for most of their life. It can have a huge impact on the way they feel and the way they live their life, causing depression and low self-esteem. “At Laserase Bolton, we want to help raise awareness of acne and how it can affect people’s well-being, as well as letting sufferers know there is help available and that they shouldn’t suffer in silence.” Bury Mum Liz Partington (pictured) has had acne for years and the spots on her face made her feel very self-conscious and knocked her confidence. 40 year old Liz, who is an English teacher, says: “My acne was fairly bad. Often the spots were large, sore and inflamed and took a long time to go.” Laserase Bolton has a high success rate with acne management and uses a combination of different therapies, including NLite laser treatment, to get the best results. The NLite laser is one of the biggest breakthroughs in the treatment of acne in recent years and has been used successfully at Laserase Bolton for over 10 years. Thanks to laser treatment, Liz has not needed antibiotics for more than two years. Liz says: “Life is better now. I am more confident and much less self-conscious.” For most people acne will clear up on its own, but anyone who has the ongoing condition is encouraged to get medical advice from Laserase Bolton or their own GP.

Charity's help goes down a storm

Thu, 30 May 2013 08:42 +0000

A Bedford man is enjoying increased independence thanks to the support he has received from national disability charity Action For Kids.A generous matched-funding grant from the ACT Foundation enabled Action For Kids to give Jason Taylor a Storm 4 powered wheelchair that is specially designed for his needs.According to Jason, the £7,500 wheelchair has increased both his mobility and his independence. He said: "I can honestly say this chair has helped my confidence and given me more freedom. This fantastic wheelchair means I can now go out on my own – people might think it is only a small thing but even being able to raise my chair so I can reach the button on a local zebra crossing means I don’t have to ask people for help. It’s super."Action For Kids is a national charity that supports children and young people with physical and learning disabilities find greater levels of independence and opportunity through the provision of appropriate aid and support.According to Maureen Galvin of Action For Kids, people often assume that disabled people can use any wheelchair, but in reality each one has to be tailored to its user. "The wheelchair we have been able to supply allows Jason to tilt the chair in order to sit comfortably at a desk, allows him to recline when he needs a rest and offers him security as he can’t slip out of the chair."Added Jason: "Knowing I can get out and about on my own and that I won’t get stranded in town is really important to me. I can’t thank Action For Kids and the ACT Foundation enough for the funding they have provided."I recently graduated with a law degree and I am now looking for a job. This wheelchair will help me get to work independently."If you would like to help other young people like Jason, please visit www.actionforkids.org.

Time to change the way we teach foreign languages

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:56 +0000

I might be something of a communications geek, but I adore the challenges and excitement of communication. Humankind is, as far as we know, the species with the most highly developed sense of communication and language and so, to me, communication is part of the very essence of being human.I am interested in the whole range of communications from technological developments such as blogs and Twitter, to corporate communications and foreign languages.Learning a foreign language enables us to communicate with fellow human beings in other countries and from other backgrounds and cultures. The teaching of foreign languages has always interested me, though not being a teacher, I can only speak from the perspective of a learner.The world has changed a great deal since I studied German. Back then it was not uncommon to pick up scientific journals – I also studied chemistry – in which research papers were published in German, French or Russian, with only a brief English abstract, if you were lucky. I remember once ‘deciphering’ a pharmaceutical paper that was published in Danish. Today, almost all such papers would be published in English.Although, I no longer use my German in the working environment, I still value its use when I visit Germany as I gain so much more, I believe, than if I relied on the English spoken by the locals. And as I socialise with a number of Germans, it is so useful to be able to speak German. We often have great debates about the finer nuances between the two languages. I remember a recent discussion in German about the difference between ‘naughty’ and ‘nasty’ in English. My German friend was intrigued by the difference between ‘You naughty girl’ said to someone of six years of age and someone of 42! Foreign language teaching What has always concerned me about foreign language teaching in the UK is the way it has typically focused on one or two languages. In countries which do not have English as a mother tongue, it goes without saying that the first foreign language you teach should be English, as the lingua franca for most of the world’s business community.For the UK, however, the decision is much more difficult. For historical, cultural and geographical reasons, the first choice of foreign language here has been French, German or Spanish, with Russian and Mandarin coming in a distant second place.But in reality the needs of our population is not to learn a language in great detail. I know plenty about the use of the extended attribute in scientific German. What I believe would be better for students is to learn half a dozen languages more superficially.Not only will this increase the chance that, when visiting a foreign country, you have some basic grasp of the local language but, from a commercial point of view, future business people will be able to at least understand some of the deliberations taking place around them.I am convinced that the general reliance on English has not stood the UK economy in good stead when it comes to exporting to overseas markets.Obviously, there will always be a need for some students to study one or two languages in depth, in order that they can become translators or journalist or whatever, but what I’d like to see is that the first two years of language teaching, as a minimum, focuses on basic salutations in languages including Welsh, Mandarin, Arabic, Russian and Spanish.In fact, it doesn’t really matter which languages they are, the key is that we empower people to have a better understanding of their fellow human beings, wherever on the globe they are.

Action For Kids welcomes donation from Sainsbury's Muswell Hill

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:38 +0000

Disabled children and young people’s charity Action For Kids, based in Hornsey, North London, is to receive a cheque for £3,700 from Sainsbury's Muswell Hill following a busy year of fundraising.Over the past year, employees at the Sainsbury’s store have undertaken a wide range of activities to support the charity. Employees have taken part in the Finsbury Park run, organised a Jubilee Party, and held in-store collections and raffles to raise vital funds for Action For Kids.Some of the supermarket’s staff have volunteered with Action For Kids, giving the employees a wealth of useful experience and, in addition, the charity, which offers a work placement scheme, has seen a number of young people gain valuable work experience at the store.Speaking about the donation from Sainsbury’s, Tracey Lloyd, director of fundraising at Action For Kids said: “We are so grateful to the staff and customers of Sainsbury’s for all their help. We rely on the generosity of local businesses and their customers to provide essential support to young disabled people and we cannot thank them enough.”Action For Kids helps children and young people with physical and learning disabilities find greater levels of independence and opportunity through the provision of appropriate aid and support. The charity provides a supportive, accessible environment where students can not only gain valuable experience but also be of real help in the running of the charity.To find out more about Action For Kids and its work, visit www.actionforkids.org.

Credit union sector set to transform in two years

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:30 +0000

31 credit unions have signed up to a major new project that is set to transform the credit union sector over the next two years. The ambitious Credit Union Expansion Project is being managed by the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd (ABCUL) and aims to attract up to a million more people into credit union membership. The Government has agreed to invest £35.6 million in the sector, which could save consumers up to £1 billion in loan interest repayments. The first wave of 31 credit unions to join up has now been announced and includes many larger and fast growing credit unions. Over the next few months, many more credit unions will follow suit, allowing even more credit union members to benefit from the scheme. Credit unions are expected to serve an extra one million members within five years. Mark Lyonette, Chief Executive of ABCUL, said: "We will be supporting credit unions to offer a much wider range of great value products to many more members from a broad range of income groups. "Consumers will soon be able to benefit from the latest online technology to sign up to credit union services such as current accounts, budgeting accounts and Cash ISAs. A centralised hub will automate the delivery of products so that members can also access credit union services through secure connections to other networks. It is hoped that this will include the Post Office network. "Credit unions will retain their local status and community focus, but work together where they can benefit from pooling knowledge and resources. This will give members the best of both worlds." Because core tasks will be centralised, credit unions will benefit from economies of scale which they will be able to pass onto members through lower loan rates and better returns on savings. They will also be able to focus on providing the excellent service to members that they pride themselves on. The sector will also research what people want from credit unions and work with employers and other community leaders to help more people access the services they need. Mark Lyonette added: "This is a landmark project for credit unions and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which will help to place the credit union movement in Britain on a similar footing to leading credit union movements around the world." Credit unions have welcomed the project and the benefits it will bring to their members. Barry Duggan, Manager of Voyager Alliance Credit Union, which serves the passenger transport industry in England, Scotland and Wales, said: "We are really pleased to have been selected as one of the first wave of credit unions to join the project. Our credit union has always tried to stay at the forefront of new developments and new technologies – for example we were one of the first to introduce the Credit Union Current Account – and this scheme will help us to grow further and offer more and better services to our members. It is an exciting time for the credit union movement and we are looking forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead." Vincent Thomas, Chair of London Plus Credit Union, said: "This inspirational project will help us to reduce costs and expand our product range as well as helping us to provide the fast and efficient services people expect these days. As well as being better able to compete with less ethical lenders, it will allow us to offer services to the whole community – not just those on lower incomes. We are delighted to be part of the project and we are looking forward to the improvements it will bring for members."

Luke's charity walk for little sister

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:35 +0000

Family and friends of Hannah Warburton from Lydiate undertook a sponsored walk to raise money for a specialist piece of equipment that will give her increased mobility and freedom.Led by brother Luke (six), the group are raising funds for national disabled children's charity, Action For Kids, to pay for a Tomcat trike for Hannah who has autism and developmental delay.According to Hannah's mum, Debbie, the trike will enable Hannah (four) to play with her brother and go for family bike rides, "just as other families do".Says Debbie: "Hannah isn't able to pedal a bike. But when we had a trial of the Tomcat trike, she loved it. Luke was able to push her in safety and they had a great time."Debbie and Hannah’s Dad, Pete, contacted Action For Kids to see if they could help fund the £2,200 needed for the Tomcat trike.Action For Kids helps children and young people with physical and learning disabilities find greater levels of independence and opportunity through the provision of appropriate aid and support, including trikes like the Tomcat."The charity was fantastic," says Debbie. "They agreed to fund the trike for Hannah, but due to the cost they won't be able to supply it until later in the year. That's when Luke came up with the idea to raise some funds ourselves so that we can hopefully get the trike in time for the summer.""We really want to thank everyone who is helping us raise funds for the trike. It was great to see so many of Luke’s school friends from St Thomas’ Church of England school taking part. I can’t thank them enough."If readers would like to help Luke raise funds to help other children like Hannah, they can donate online at http://www.justgiving.com/HannahWarburtonTo find out more about Action For Kids and its work, visit www.actionforkids.org.

Laser clinic welcomes reports of new regulation

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:31 +0000

Laserase Bolton, the North West’s leading laser and skin health centre, is welcoming reports that a new law could soon be introduced to regulate non-surgical skin treatments. The review into plastic surgery by the Medical Director of NHS England, Sir Bruce Keogh, is understood to be likely to suggest a new law to regulate all those who provide dermal fillers to smooth out wrinkles and laser treatment for wrinkles or hair reduction. Julie Kershaw, Clinic Manager at Laserase Bolton, said: "It is good to hear that tighter regulation could soon be introduced to clamp down on unscrupulous practitioners who have little or no training. "Although we welcome suggestions that everyone providing cosmetic skin treatments should have suitable qualifications, we would prefer the Government to go even further and ensure that only fully trained medical professionals can provide these treatments. "At Laserase Bolton, all our practitioners are qualified doctors and nurses who have over 10 years’ experience." Unlike Botox, which is only available on prescription and can only be provided by doctors and nurses, other non-surgical cosmetic treatments are largely unregulated, and untrained and unqualified providers are putting patients at risk.

Cyprus hears the bad news – EU style

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:59 +0000

It is said that a week in politics is a long time - for the people of Cyprus today, 24 hours is a lifetime. Overnight Cypriots were told to find €5.8 billion or the country goes bankrupt.The Euro Group's Plan A was to take the money directly out of everybody's bank accounts. Banks immediately closed (for 11 days now and not likely to open until Thursday) and we turned into a 'cash only' economy. No bank transfers, no credit card transactions and with very little available cash. People took to the streets and the Parliament said NO to the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund.The 24-hour news media circus dissects every loose comment from EU finance ministers and experts tie themselves in knots to explain the situation. The politicians are forced to depend on their political principles - if they have any - and call on us all to be calm and responsible.Talk around the Cypriot dinner table and in the coffee shops is no longer about the Cyprus problem with the Turkish invasion of 1974, or how to manage the local football team, but is now all about 'Bail-in's, haircuts, bank guarantees and bank levies. We also have now a new race of people on the island - The Troikans - young civil servants from Brussels with their smart clothes and sharp tongues that tell us how to run our lives as decreed by the ECB, European Commission and the IMF.The concepts of solidarity and confidence in institutions are in very short supply as the rich with more than €100,000 are screaming and the poor and unemployed embarrassingly queue up for food parcels.The tension between the North and South of Europe is now palpable with the growing rift between East and West not far behind. The feeling of being part of the European Community is now shot by a disastrous policy decision to suggest that people's bank deposits are no longer protected; making laws overnight and there being no evidence of any communications policy to explain the actions agreed upon.The rest of Europe may now feel relieved that little Cyprus is no longer the first news item, but spare a thought for the Cypriots and all those living on the island as the economic meltdown continues and our banks are still closed!This writer just received an SMS message that the Co-op Bank in Tseriou Avenue has got some money in the cash machine, so the dog gets a walk and then we may join my 16-year-old son demonstrating outside the Parliament to tell the world that "Enough is enough. It's my future you are playing with."Ray's website is http://policomm.info

Social media hits new heights

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:49 +0000

News this week that YouTube now has over 1 billion users a month is another milestone in the remorseless growth of social media. In the autumn, Facebook hit the 1 billion users a month mark and this week Twitter celebrated its seventh birthday, with 200 million active users and 400 million tweets a day. All this sounds incredible, but really it’s not surprising, as these networks are very addictive. I never thought I would say it but, for me, life without social media is now unthinkable.Social media in all its forms is rapidly becoming today’s most accessed communication platform. News often breaks on Twitter, for example, minutes if not hours before it reaches traditional media and stories spread around the world in seconds.Of course, with 400 million tweets a day, there’s bound to be a lot of trivia – from what you’ve had for dinner to what your pet has done – and I’m sure many of us get exasperated about the sheer volume of tweets, which it is almost impossible to keep up with. However, for organisations, it is still a fast and effective way to reach an interested audience.Facebook offers the scope for greater depth and interaction and allows businesses to create a more personalised and accessible resource for customers and potential customers to refer to. Posting well-made videos on YouTube on the other hand is an effective way to engage your target audience and entertain them. A video can often have much more impact than a photo.Sometimes I think to myself why do I need (and use) all these social networks? But, like most people I am sure, I tend to use them in different ways. I check my tweets for what’s happening in the world, I go on Facebook to “talk” to family and friends and get the latest news from organisations I support, and I use YouTube for listening to music and for entertainment (which often then involves seeing adverts and videos made by organisations). With audiences now in the billions, only an ostrich would ignore the communication potential of social networks. Now where’s that dancing pony video again?

Social investment boosts employee-owned homecare business

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:40 +0000

An award-winning provider of homecare services for vulnerable people in the Highlands of Scotland has secured significant investment from Big Issue Invest to enable it to grow its business.Highland Home Carers (HHC), which is 100% owned by its employees, delivers homecare and support service across the Highlands. It was founded in Inverness in 1994 and now provides carers within a 40 mile radius of the city, looking after almost 400 people.A new finance deal with social investors including Big Issue Invest has given HHC the chance to take on more contracts and move forward.Highland Home Carers was originally set up by Nick Boyle, with the goal of exiting after 10 years. In 2004, he set in motion his plan to sell the company.“The business had a good reputation and I didn’t want to sell to a competitor,” says Boyle, now Chairman of the company. “It would have felt disloyal to the employees. The way to have the best possible service was to have the greatest continuity of employees, and employee ownership solved all these issues.”The right to share in profits is central to the social mission of HHC, motivating staff to deliver high-quality services. The model is one that particularly suits the care industry, says HHC Chief Executive Stephen Pennington.“We don’t make things and we don’t sell things, it is all about people,’” he says. “The people are our asset and by investing in your people you improve the quality of your service – which is at the very heart of caring.”Highland Home Carers has more than 240 employees from a range of backgrounds and they are happy to stay with Highland Home Carers, according to Pennington. “From anecdotal evidence, we are streets ahead of our competitors in terms of employee retention. The big problem for our competitors is recruitment and holding on to staff.” The relatively longer distances carers have to travel in the more remote areas of the Highlands can create difficulties for corporate businesses, which often have to satisfy shareholders with high profits, leading to too much focus on the bottom line. This is far less of an issue for HHC, where the people who own the business are part of the community.According to Nigel Kershaw, Chief Executive of Big Issue Invest, social investment in businesses such as HHC is making real differences to communities and HHC is just the type of business that Big Issue Invest wants to invest in: “We see this as an investment in a community. As an employee-owned company, HHC brings not only employment but stability to the local community. They’re not likely to run off and locate in another area! Most importantly, it means some people will receive home caring where no one else is willing to provide it.”Big Issue Invest (BII) is the social investment arm of The Big Issue. It helps to scale up social enterprises and charities throughout the UK by providing loans and investments from £50,000 to £1 million.Employee ownership pays dividends in terms of motivation and engagement. HHC support worker Ralph Ross, who helps people with learning difficulties live in their homes, says that employee ownership has a tangible effect on the workforce. “We feel like we’re working as a big team, we’re working for each other to make HHC better.”To find out more about Highland Home Carers visit www.highland-home-carers.co.uk. For more about Big Issue Invest and the financial support they offer to social enterprises and charities, visit www.bigissueinvest.com.Photo shows: 70 year old Helen Henderson from Inverness who has been visited by HHC for the past five years. She says without HHC her only option would be residential care – “And I wouldn’t fancy that!”

Social investment boost for Highland homecare business

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:26 +0000

Big Issue Invest has invested in Highland Home Carers, an award-winning provider of homecare services for vulnerable people in the Highlands of Scotland.Highland Home Carers (HHC), which is 100% owned by its employees, delivers homecare and support service across the Highlands. It was founded in Inverness in 1994 and now provides carers within a 40 mile radius of the city, looking after almost 400 people.A new finance deal with social investors including Big Issue Invest has given HHC the chance to take on more contracts and move forward.Big Issue Invest (BII) is the social investment arm of The Big Issue. It helps to scale up social enterprises and charities throughout the UK by providing loans and investments from £50,000 to £1 million.Nigel Kershaw, Chief Executive of Big Issue Invest, says: “We see this as an investment in a community. As an employee-owned company, HHC brings not only employment but stability to the local community. They’re not likely to run off and locate in another area! Most importantly, it means some people will receive home caring where no one else is willing to provide it.”Highland Home Carers was originally set up by Nick Boyle, now Chairman of the company, who sold the business to the employees in 2004. Boyle saw employee ownership as the way to deliver the best possible service, by ensuring the greatest continuity of employees.The right to share in profits is central to the social mission of HHC, motivating staff to deliver high-quality services. The model is one that particularly suits the care industry, says HHC Chief Executive Stephen Pennington.“We don’t make things and we don’t sell things, it is all about people,’” he says. “The people are our asset and by investing in your people you improve the quality of your service – which is at the very heart of caring.”HHC support worker Ralph Ross, who helps people with learning difficulties live in their homes, agrees that the employee-owned nature of the company has a tangible effect on the workforce. “We feel like we’re working as a big team, we’re working for each other to make HHC better.”Ross was also an ‘employee director’ for three years, representing colleagues on the board. “It has definitely given me the confidence to speak up and have my say on the direction the company is taking,” he explains.The company has more than 240 employees from all sorts of backgrounds and they are happy to stay with Highland Home Carers, according to Pennington. “From anecdotal evidence, we are streets ahead of our competitors in terms of employee retention. The big problem for our competitors is recruitment and holding on to staff.” The relatively longer distances carers have to travel in the more remote areas of the Highlands can create difficulties for corporate businesses, which often have to satisfy shareholders with high profits, leading to too much focus on the bottom line. This is far less of an issue for HHC, where the people who own the business are part of the community.To find out more about Highland Home Carers visit www.highland-home-carers.co.uk. For more about Big Issue Invest and the financial support they offer to social enterprises and charities, visit www.bigissueinvest.com.Case study70 year old Helen Henderson (pictured with a carer) from Inverness has mobility issues and has been visited by HHC for the past five years. “I would be totally lost without them,” she says. “They get me up in the morning, see me right at lunch and tuck me up in bed at night. They have kept me in my home.”Helen is very pleased with HHC’s dedicated service. “I’m very friendly with them,” she says. “Without them the option would be residential care. And I wouldn’t fancy that!”

Nightrider challenge offers double rewards for Tottenham dad

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:41 +0000

For bakery manager and keen cyclist, Rob Burrows, from Tottenham in North London, cycling 100km around the streets of London at night is not only challenging but also doubly rewarding – for him and his son. Rob is taking part in Nightrider 2013 on behalf of children’s and young people’s charity, Action For Kids, based in Hornsey. Rob says: "My son, Daniel, has been involved with Action For Kids since he was at school – now he’s 23 – and I am taking part in the Nightrider cycle ride to raise money for the charity so they can help more youngsters like him." Action For Kids helps children and young people with physical and learning disabilities find greater levels of independence and opportunity through the provision of appropriate aid and support. In Daniel’s case, the charity offered him work experience when he was 15 and over the past eight years he has stayed in touch with the charity. He currently does real office work for the charity and is actively looking for a full-time paid position. According to Rob it is very difficult for young disabled people to get work experience. "Daniel has learning difficulties and thanks to the placement provided by Action For Kids he was able to get a real taste of the world of work." Action For Kids provides a supportive, accessible environment where students can not only gain valuable experience but also be of real help in the running of the charity. Rob is hoping to complete the 100km course around London in about six and a half hours. He says: "Nightrider is a really enjoyable way to raise funds for charity and to see London in a way you might not have done before. The rapport between the riders is great and makes this challenge a real pleasure to be part of."Nightrider 2013 takes place on 8 and 9 June and you can find more information at http://www.actionforkids.org/nightrider.asp Sponsor Rob Burrows and help raise vital funds for Action For Kids at http://bit.ly/16rKBLX or contact events@actionforkids.org if you would like to take part too. The deadline to sign up for Nightrider 2013 is 10 May.To find out more about Action For Kids and its work, visit www.actionforkids.org

The horsemeat scandal and reputation

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:54 +0000

The horsemeat scandal has given all self-respecting commentators an excuse to put pen to paper, usually with one or two horsey puns thrown in for good measure.But, as I want to address the importance of reputation, maybe I am best leaving out the jokes. I wouldn’t like to ruin my reputation.Much of the debate about this horsemeat scandal has focussed, quite rightly, on the issue of food safety, especially given the fact that the banned human drug phenylbutazone, commonly referred to as bute, has been found in horsemeat destined for the human food chain.From a public relations perspective, there will be currently dozens, if not hundreds, of PR managers in food companies, trying to put into action everything they have rehearsed about crisis management.Both Morrisons and The Co-operative have so far been the most visible food retailers on the news, with a recent Channel Four News interview with Peter Marks, Chief Executive at The Co-operative Group , giving his organisation the opportunity to publicly reaffirm its commitment to providing unadulterated food, the very reason the Co-operative Movement was established in the first place.But crisis management is only one aspect of managing reputation. Once a crisis hits, all hands are needed on deck to deal with the media (and public) onslaught that can follow. Especially now, with our 24 hour rolling news, PR managers will be kept on their toes with requests for information, press statements and interviews.But during a crisis, one eye needs always to be kept looking to the future. Sometimes in the middle of a crisis it is hard to imagine that the media frenzy will die down again, but inevitably it will.Organisations, ideally with input from their marketing and PR professionals, have to establish their route out of the crisis and put strategies and policies in place that can build their trust and reputation again.This horsemeat scandal has hit reputations hard. Consumers are rightly worried that they can no longer trust the information provided by retailers and manufacturers on their food packaging. If horsemeat can be passed off as beef, or pork end up in beef meatballs, who is to say that we can trust the list of ingredients on any other product?The food industry now has the perfect opportunity to massively simplify both their supply chain and their products themselves as one way to rebuild confidence. Retailers and manufacturers need to know where all the ingredients in food products come from and consumers should be able to easily read, and understand, the ingredients contained in the products.The highly processed and complex formulation of many foodstuffs these days has resulted in consumers having to put their trust in the retailer. The simplification of products, so that they contain fewer ingredients, combined with better labelling of where products actually come from, rather than just where the product was ‘assembled’ , could be a useful strategy in rebuilding consumer confidence.But such fundamental change is not easily embraced by complex large businesses. The likely focus for any rebuilding of public confidence is surely going to be testing. A rigorous regime of food testing – with the results published – is likely to pay dividends in terms of reputation and trust. Trust is built slowly by the aggregation of years of positive experiences and if the food industry and government get behind transparent testing, consumers are likely to once again be confident in their food.Although there has been a reported 30% increase in sales in butchers’ shops around the country, the predominance of the supermarkets means that consumers will increasingly move back to them as trust in their products increases. However, supermarkets and food producers will now need to operate for a prolonged period with no further issues or scandals in order for the trust-o-meter to rise.Honesty has always been a key element in a business’s reputation, and openness and greater transparency about the food they sell will help supermarkets win back the hearts and minds of consumers.

Zip across the Tyne like Bear Grylls for charity

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:42 +0000

Action For Kids is looking for 21 intrepid people from the North East to follow in the footsteps of TV adventurer Bear Grylls by zip sliding across the Tyne. Last summer, Bear zipped across the Tyne with the Olympic Torch as part of the Newcastle / Gateshead Olympic Torch Relay celebrations and now national disability charity Action For Kids is calling on other budding daredevils to rise to the challenge. As Action For Kids celebrates its 21st birthday this year, it is inviting thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies to do a charity zip slide and raise vital funds for disabled children, young people and their families. The zip slide from the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Arts, on 29th and 30th June, starts 40 metres up from the roof of BALTIC and travels 280 metres diagonally across the river before finishing on the Newcastle quayside. “Zip sliding is a fun way to raise vital funds for the charity,” says Lucy Duxbury, Fundraising and Community Events Officer at Action For Kids. “After seeing Bear Grylls zip across the Tyne last summer, we’re sure there are dozens of people out there secretly itching to do the same this year!” Action For Kids is a national charity that supports children and young people with physical and learning disabilities find greater levels of independence and opportunity through the provision of appropriate aid and support. Lucy adds: “To do the zip slide for Action For Kids only costs £45 per person. All you need to do is to pay your own registration fee and then raise as much money as you can for the charity. “In addition, all those joining up to zip for Action For Kids will receive lots of fundraising support, including a welcome pack full of hints and tips and a personalised Action For Kids T-shirt.” The zip slides are delivered by Zip Slides UK, which has delivered over 90 events since 2009, involving 20,000 participants, and has a 100% safety record. To find out more about the zip slide events organised by Zip Slide UK and to book your place, go to http://www.zipslidesuk.co.uk/events. For more information about zip sliding to raise funds for Action For Kids, please contact Lucy on 020 8347 8111, email events@actionforkids.org, or visit www.actionforkids.org.

Pull on your running shoes for charity!

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:02 +0000

National kids and young people’s charity, Action For Kids, is encouraging marathon runners who have missed out on a place in the Virgin London Marathon to consider applying for a place in this year’s Brighton Marathon. Many charity runners are disappointed each year when they fail to secure a place in the London Marathon. However, there is still an opportunity to fulfil that ambition and take on the challenge with Action For Kids, who are offering runners the chance to take part in the Brighton Marathon. “The London Marathon is so popular these days that many runners who would really like to run and support a charity have difficulty getting a place,” says Lucy Duxbury, Events and Community Officer at the charity.“But the Brighton Marathon offers the same physical challenge and takes in stunning coastal views and a tour of this fun-loving party city. What’s more, the crowd support is also breathtaking, with supporters lining the streets to cheer each and every runner on to the finish line.”Everyone who volunteers to run the Brighton Marathon for Action For Kids receives help and support from the charity, including a welcome pack full of fundraising ideas and training advice, a personalised AFK running vest and guidance on setting up an online fundraising page.Says Lucy: “We are encouraging all our runners to raise £500 (a lot less than the average London Marathon sponsorship target!) and every runner will know that they have helped to support a really worthwhile charity that makes a difference to so many young people’s lives.”Action For Kids helps children and young people with both physical and learning disabilities find greater levels of independence and opportunity through the provision of appropriate aid and support.Public entries to this year’s Brighton Marathon, which takes place on Sunday 14th April, have now closed, so the only way to enter is through a charity such as Action For Kids.To find out more about running the Brighton Marathon and helping Action For Kids, please visit: http://www.actionforkids.org/brightonmarathon.asp. To find out more about Action For Kids and its work, please visit: www.actionforkids.org.

An evening of music and dance for Action For Kids

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:47 +0000

Edmonton Central SDA Church is organising an evening of live music and dance performances to raise vital funds for Action For Kids, a charity which works with disabled children and young people. The event takes place on Saturday 23 February, from 6pm to 11pm, at Boundary Hall Community Centre, Snells Park, Upper Edmonton N18 2TB. All are invited to the event - entrance is free but donations are welcome and the proceeds from refreshment sales will go to support the charity’s work. Action For Kids is dedicated to helping transform the lives of children and young people with physical and learning disabilities across the country by removing barriers to independence.For more information email events@actionforkids.org or call Lucy on 020 8347 8111.

Credit union's success means new premises for members

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:15 +0000

A new head office for London Mutual Credit Union, jointly owned by 16,000 people, will be opened on Thursday 31st January by Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman MP. London Mutual’s new premises in Peckham have been refurbished to provide an attractive and welcoming place for people to access great value financial services including a Cash ISA that pays 3% AER and an alternative ‘payday’ loan product that costs a fraction of the rate of commercial providers. The credit union’s CUOK loan product offers short term loans over up to 3 months at just 26,8% APR. The new service has drawn nearly 2,000 people away from high cost lenders which may charge up to 4,000 APR since its launch in February 2012. The former social services office was purchased from Southwark Council for £1 million. Its 5,000 square feet houses the credit union branch on the ground floor with office space above. London Mutual Credit Union’s Chief Executive Lucky Chandrasekera said: "It is testament to the hard work of our volunteers and staff and the support of our 16,000 members that we have been able to buy our own premises. We have always been at the heart of our community and I’m proud that we now have our own base in the centre of Peckham that is owned by our members. It will meet the needs of our expanding staff team as we expand access to many more people and will be a great advertisement to draw people away from the high cost lenders that plague our communities." Harriet Harman MP said: "With payday loan shops blighting high streets, loan sharks stalking local estates and banks refusing to lend, there has never been a greater need for the excellent services of London Mutual Credit Union. Building on the great work they’ve done over the years, I am delighted to be opening London Mutual Credit Union’s head office in Peckham." Mark Lyonette, Chief Executive of the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd (ABCUL) said: "It is always great to see credit unions expanding and reaching more people. When a credit union reaches the stage when it can buy its own premises, it is really a cause for celebration. The new building is one that any organisation would be proud of, but it is extra special here because it is through thousands of local people joining together in a credit union that this has been made possible." Lord Roy Kennedy of Southwark, who is a Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Credit Unions, will join the credit union at the opening, which will also be attended by the leaders of Southwark and Camden councils – Cllr Peter John and Cllr Sarah Hayward.

Wildfires should be wake up call for the environment

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:44 +0000

Towards the end of last year we were working with a farmer in Tasmania who was keen to use an eye-catching logo we had developed to show that the paper they use is both recycled and can be recycled again.Over the Christmas and New Year break we heard about the wildfires affecting much of Tasmania and were, of course, concerned for the farmer, as well as the other inhabitants of the island.Thanks to the power of email we were able to find out really quickly that all is well 'down under', though water pumps and a kayak are ready should the fires get too close for comfort.The farmer in Tasmania will be using the logo on a new range of lavender products they are developing. At the farm, called Campo de Flori, they are now in the process of finalising their products and their website will be up and running soon. In the meantime, they have a Facebook page which contains their latest news.It is a relief to hear that the wildfires have not reached the farm, even though they have been raging all around, and the lavender and bees are still unaffected. It must be a very stressful time for the farmers there, at such a crucial stage of their production cycle, so we wish them luck. The irony that we are in touch with a farmer 11,000 miles away because we both share an interest in the environment and sustainability, and we are now talking about the possible effects of global warming, is not lost on us.Latest news reports indicate wildfires are now posing serious problems in New South Wales too. Surely, it is now time for us all to take more serious note of environmental issues.

New Chief Executive for national disability charity Action For Kids

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:56 +0000

Graham Duncan has been appointed Chief Executive of national disability charity Action For Kids and took up his post at the beginning of January 2013. Graham Duncan joins Action For Kids from Prostate Cancer UK, where he was Interim Director of Operations. Over the past eight years, Graham’s career has also included time working with Charity Bank and a housing association. "This is a hugely exciting opportunity," says Graham. "I am acutely aware of what Action For Kids has achieved over the past 20 years or so and I want to help the charity develop further. This is a real opportunity to take the charity forward and to benefit many more kids." Action For Kids is dedicated to helping transform the lives of children and young people with physical and learning disabilities across the country by removing barriers to independence. To find out more about Action For Kids and its work, please visit the website www.actionforkids.org or call 020 8347 8111.

Scam email warning for credit union members

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:34 +0000

ABCUL (the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd) is warning credit union members not to respond to scam emails informing them they have won prizes in a national credit union lottery which does not exist. Emails have been sent to some credit union members from www.culottery.co.uk, claiming that they have won prizes in a national credit union lottery. While many credit union members are able to take part in lotteries run to raise funds for their credit union, there is no national lottery run by or for the credit union sector nationally. Members replying to the emails are likely to be asked to provide bank details and risk identity fraud and theft if they respond to requests. The website is illustrated with pictures of alleged winners of the lottery. These are actually doctored photos taken from the Connecticut State Lottery website. A number of credit unions are listed on the site, but none are associated with any such organisation. The website also has logos of Western Union and the Big Lottery; neither organisation has anything to do with the scheme.ABCUL Chief Executive Mark Lyonette said: "It is a sad side effect of the increasing popularity of credit unions in Britain that scammers are targeting credit union members. I would advise anyone who receives an email saying they have won a prize or requesting any information to contact their credit union and not respond to the email."