RECENT EVENTS
GIVING IN HARD TIMES
On Friday 6 June 2008, TalkInCompany held their first theme-based session in Wandsworth and addressed the whole exciting issue of giving in hard times. Whilst philanthropy might invoke the idea of giving away huge sums of money nothing could be further from the truth. During the course of the day we had the chance to consider what causes mattered, how you could achieve your aims effectively, so that what you may want to give can be directed efficiently. This is equally true if you have a lot of money to give away, £10 a month or whether you have time, skills or other resources.
What the Day Involved
The session was launched into action by the FT’s witty and pithy columnist Mrs Moneypenny (supporting Maggie's Centres - a place anyone affected by cancer can turn to for help) and included talks from inspirational and active locals as well as experts speaking about the many efficient and rewarding ways in which individuals can give money or time. In addition there was selected exhibitors, the opportunity to challenge and ask questions, as well as a chance to network and have a good lunch. And then finish up with a panel based ‘Any Questions’ style discussion.
Meet the Experts
CHARLOTTE GROBIEN, social entrepreneur and resident of Putney, supports many local charities through her enterprise ‘Give It Away Ltd’. Charlotte is so passionate about her work that she gets personally involved in the projects she supports. For this event she was supporting React who are based in Kew. They work in improving the quality of life for financially disadvantaged children with life-limiting illnesses living in the UK.
GINA SYMMONS, creator of the Pink Ice Ball. Gina is an inspirational fundraiser who has set up one of the most glamourous and glitzy parties of the social calendar. Her chosen charity for this event was Hospice in the Weald
TIMEBANK: experts in matching the passions, interests and skills of individuals with opportunities that suit their lifestyles, be it one hour a week to a local organisation, one month contributing to a national campaign, or one year volunteering abroad.
NEW PHILANTHROPY CAPITAL, set up by a group of leading City financiers, produce research which identifies where need is greatest and identifies those charities which are efficient and effective. By arming donors with this research they provide information about how money is used whilst providing charities with an objective and independent view. Copies of such research was available.
THE INSTITUTE FOR PHILANTHROPY was established to develop and nurture a greater understanding of effective giving and its place in modern society. It achieves this by providing education and building donor networks via youth programmes in schools as well as seminars on effective giving in partnership with private banks, law firms and accountancy firms.
PHILANTHROPY UK is the leading internet resource for free and impartial advice for those who want to give effectively. They recently published the first contemporary report into women and philanthropy in the UK highlighting the growing involvement and influence of women. During this session Philanthropy UK explored the myriad shapes of giving circles and networks. Learn how to set one up and decide what works best for you.
BARCLAYS WEALTH - sponsors of the event
From the Audience
"Giving in Hard Times was an excellent topic for discussion. Overall I would say this session inspired people (or at least at our table) to do more which is a fabulous result. Thanks so much for a lovely thought provoking afternoon." Emma
"I would also like to congratulate you on the great event you organized - it was so well organised, professional and inspiring - but yet very relaxed! I hope there will be more in the future!" Mia
From the Speakers
"I thought you had a very good line up of speakers with some really useful material and a good way of delivering it. I wish I had known some of them before!" Charlotte
"Just writing to say a big 'thank you' to you and the TalkInCompany team for allowing me to represent the Institute at your event - it was a great opportunity for us. More importantly, I thought the day was a tremendous success - pitched at precisely the right level, and very well attended to boot...." Musa.
Profits from this event were shared between Trinity Hospice and the charities chosen by some of our contributors.
RECENT EVENTS - SPEAKERS
March 2008 - WILFRED EMMANUEL-JONES
Our March speaker was Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones ("The Black Farmer"). Born in Jamaica, he came to Britain when he was four. He left school without qualifications and embarked on a varied and colourful career taking in spells at catering college, the BBC, producing the Food and Drink Programme, and setting up a food marketing business which he sold. He then bought a 40-acre farm in Devon where he produces a range of sausages and meats.
In 2005 Wilfred launched a Rural Scholarship which aims to show young people from the inner cities the opportunities for work and life in the countryside. This work was featured in a Channel 4 series ‘The Black Farmer’ as Wilfred mentored eight young people over six weeks. The Black Farmer Scholarship is the charity he was supporting.
Photo Album - Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones's Lunch
FEBRURAY 2008 - ROBIN SIEGER - International best-selling Author, Broadcaster and world-class Motivational Speaker
Whatever stage you are at this is the man to inspire you to the max so that YOU reach your potential. He was also very, very funny having spent years as a stand up comic and successful comedy writer. He spoke from both personal and professional experience and was frank, funny, emotive and intellectually challenging. Robin works to push the boundaries of self-belief, and he challenges audiences to ‘dream big' and not be limited by fear and a natural resistance to change.
Robin was supporting the Pattaya Orphanage Trust which helps vulnerable and disadvantaged children in Thailand - abandoned, disabled, HIV+, tsunami survivors or street children. They provide a home, education and future for almost 1000 children, and reach out to thousands more through health and nutrition projects.
Photo Album - Robin Sieger's Lunch
NOVEMBER 2007 - ADAM PRITCHARD - Pomegreat
Adam Pritchard is the founder of RJA Foods which produces Pomegreat, the fastest growing juice drink in the country. 850,000 litres of Pomegreat are sold per month and it is the only fruit drink to be approved by the country's leading cholesterol charity, Heart
UK.
Adam fell in love with pomegranate juice, largely unheard of in the UK, whilst on holiday from his job as a stockbroker. Inspired, he jacked in the City and spent hours in libraries researching the fruit juice market, searching for the perfect pomegranate supply and working with drinks' industry experts to achieve the perfect blend of juice. This one has worked though with two other failed businesses under his belt and the near collapse of RJA Foods twice in the first 12 months of operation.
Adam was supporting Heart Research UK, a visionary charity that leads the way funding ground breaking, innovative, medical research projects at the cutting edge of science into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.
Photo Album - Adam Pritchard's Lunch
OCTOBER 2007 - RT HON ANN WIDDECOMBE, MP
The Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe is MP for Maidstone and the Weald. In John Major's Government she was Home Office Minister under Michael Howard and was appointed the Shadow Home Secretary 1997-2001. A lady of many talents, star of Westminster and the small screen, contributing to programmes as varied as ‘Celebrity fit club’ and ‘Grumpy Old Women’. She is a prolific writer, both as a journalist with a weekly column in the Daily Express and now as a best selling author of romantic novels. This proved to be a fascinating talk as Ann presented her stories and tales in a forthright and entertaining way.
Ann's chosen charity was the Buttercup Sanctuary for Goats
Photo Album for Ann Widdecombe's Lunch
SEPTEMBER 2007 - VICTORIA MATHER - Journalist, Author and Broadcaster
Victoria Mather is a journalist, broadcaster and television presenter. This lunch took place on a Thursday as she has a major deadline every Friday contributing the razor-sharp and hilariously funny texts to one of the most popular features in the Saturday Telegraph ‘Social Stereotypes’. She is travel editor of Tatler, a regular on Radio 4's Loose Ends, and was described by A. A. Gill as an ocean-going snob, akin only to one of P. G. Wodehouse's awe-inspiring aunts, for her performance in Channel 4's series The Dinner Party Inspectors.
Victoria's chosen charity was St. Mary's Church in Herriard, Hampshire
Photo Album for Victoria Mather's Lunch
JUNE 2007 - NICOLA HORLICK - CEO of Bramdean Asset Management
Nicola Horlick is Chief Executive Officer of Bramdean Asset Management. In this role, Nicola is responsible for implementing and supervising the Group strategy and for directing the individual business units. These include Bramdean’s Multi-Manager asset management business; Wealth Management; Bramdean Equity Managers, which manages our in-house UK Equity Fund; Bramdean Property Investment, a shared venture with Michael Elliott & Partners; Bramdean’s Alternative Investment Fund* as well, of course, as Bramdean’s Client Administration team.
Nicola has worked in the fund management industry for over twenty years and has participated in the growth of some of the UK’s premier asset management businesses, including Mercury Asset Management (now Merrill Lynch Investment Management), Morgan Grenfell Asset Management (now Deutsche) and SG Asset Management (UK).
Nicola’s chosen charity was REACH Leukaemia Appeal, part of Great Ormond Street Children's Charity, which was launched with the purpose of raising approximately £1.2 million for the advancement of pioneering research work into infant and childhood leukaemia
Photo Album for Nicola Horlick's Lunch
* No public details are available on this fund at this stage
MAY 2007- MIKE DICKSON - Author of "The More you Give the More you Get"
Mike Dickson is the co-founder of the successful
children’s charity Whizz – Kidz, which provides
mobility equipment for disabled children. Since it’s
start in 1990 Whizz – Kidz has raised over £40 million
and provided equipment for more than 4,500 children
and young people.
Mike now advises individuals and companies about
developing effective charitable giving programmes,
showing how a focussed charitable partnership will
help improve internal communications, motivate staff,
and create a more intelligent business.
He has worked with many companies including Argos,
Bestinvest, Easyjet, HSBC, Lunn Poly, Marks and
Spencer, Marsh, Woolworths – all companies which
inspired their staff to raise sums of between £250,000
and £1 million for charity.
Mike is also the author of the book ‘The
More You Give, The More You Get’, which explains how
individuals and companies can give effectively, how
the charity world works; why businesses should give
more and how it can transform them and their
employees. The book includes inspiring case histories
and practical action plans. The 2nd edition was
published in June 2007.
Mike has ‘been round 6 marathons’, led treks in the
Himalayas and Peru, is married with two children, and
lives in a very small cottage in West London.
Mike was supporting Whizz-Kidz
Photo Album for Mike Dickson's Lunch
APRIL 2007 - KEITH ABEL - Founder of Abel & Cole
In the late 1980's, little did Keith Abel know that his means of
financial support during his time at Leeds University would turn into
the award-winning business that he heads up today. Keith is the founder
of Abel & Cole, the country's leading organic home delivery service.
Since 1988, Abel & Cole has offered delivery of delicious, fresh organic
fruit and veg, organic meat, sustainably sourced fish, dairy goods and
many other ethically produced foods to their customers. Supporting over
60 British farmers and producers, they buy as much as possible from UK
farms ensuring the farmers receive a fair price, whilst taking good care
of the environment. Recently Abel & Cole has also expanded its delivery
area to include the Midlands and North of England.
Keith was supporting FareShare, a UK wide charity that redistributes surplus food from the food industry to vulnerable people in the community with the aim of relieving food poverty which is estimated to affect 4 million people. It has a
network of over 100 retailers and regular wholesalers,
which regularly donates surplus fresh food. FareShare
collects the food and distributes it to hostels and
day centres.
Photo Album for Keith Abel's Lunch