The region’s leading grant-giving charity, Heart of England Community Foundation, has announced that two new faces will be joining its board. Jasmin Koasha and Calum Nisbet have been appointed as trustees, following the charity’s record-breaking 12 months, which has seen it award over £5.7m to community projects since the start of the pandemic. Jasmin, a solicitor at Anthony Collins Solicitors, and Calum, the Commercial Director at Black Country Chamber of Commerce, will bring a combined 34 years’ of business experience to the roles, and are expected to play an instrumental part in the charity’s plans to navigate a post-pandemic world.
Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, the official charity and community arm of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, has chosen Oaks Consultancy to deliver an ambitious income generation plan to support its 2021-2024 strategy. Oaks Consultancy, which is based in Birmingham, has been commissioned by Yorkshire Cricket Foundation to deliver a four-season fundraising strategy, which will feed into the organisation’s ambitious plans to increase its impact and outreach. Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, a registered charity, delivers community projects across the county and is run by over 150 volunteers annually. Using the power of cricket, the team aims to make a lasting, positive impact on communities
As the first of its kind for the international Third Sector, a unique online community platform has launched this week: Fundraisrs is set to provide specialist fundraising and income generation support for charities, schools, clubs and community projects. The membership platform is the brainchild of Birmingham-based firm, Oaks Consultancy, and has been brought to fruition following local investment from partners including Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP). Making its debut this week, the online community platform aims to connect, inform, and advise those looking to bolster their organisation’s income. Fundraisrs will give members access to in-depth resources, expert-informed
A report released by the leading third sector consultancy firm, Oaks Consultancy, today has revealed that the pandemic has left more than a fifth of those in the Sport for Development sector fearing for their future. The statistics collated paint a worrying picture, as both a lack of funding and ongoing lockdown legislations continue to weigh heavily on what’s in store for the industry. The latest study by Oaks Consultancy – whose headquarters are in Birmingham, the city that will play host to next year’s Commonwealth Games – has been completed in partnership with three sector leaders: Laureus Sport for
The NHS has joined forces with Living Well UK and Birmingham Mind, to launch the region’s first one-stop mental health call-line for Birmingham and Solihull. Designed to make accessing mental health support as easily as possible, the 24-hour telephone number will allow callers to get immediate help over the phone from trained staff, as well as bespoke plans for aftercare assistance, all remotely. The one-stop mental health call-line for Birmingham and Solihull is part of a suite of early intervention methods, which also includes a Live Web Chat instant messenger service and an email address operated by trained staff to
Leading mental health charity, Living Well UK, has teamed up with fellow Birmingham tech-developers, Lumien, to launch a brand new platform assessing mental health in the workplace. The two Birmingham brands’ new platform sheds light on workplace wellbeing to ensure it remains a priority in lockdown. Accumulating information, analysing the results and advising on steps to help remedy the problems, the Lumien application will be vital in the fight to keep mental health a priority for Birmingham’s employers and employees alike. With the country navigating a second lockdown and remote working looking like the ‘new normal’ for the foreseeable, the
Exchanging teas for tees, Evolve has teamed up with the region’s infamous satire artist, Foka Wolf, to issue an urgent call to action for Birmingham to support its young people. The pair have today launched their limited edition t-shirts for sale; with proceeds going towards funding the social enterprise café’s work-placement schemes for those aged 16-25. With stats showing that Generation Z has been the hardest hit by employment cuts in light of the ongoing pandemic, Foka Wolf – the artist touted as ‘Birmingham’s answer to Banksy’ – wanted to put pressure on the city to do the right thing
A brand-new social enterprise has launched in Birmingham, bringing women together to empower one another through fitness, wellbeing and group support. SheBeasts Limited sees fee-paying clients sign up for one-to-one personal training sessions, with profits re-invested into funding group activities for women in refuges across the city. Whilst helping women improve their fitness across the board, SheBeasts Ltd will also work with women recovering from trauma, ranging from substance misuse through to domestic abuse. These private sessions will focus on the importance of physical and mental wellbeing, providing advice and support on a range of skills, including nutrition, fitness, health,
With World Homeless Day (10 October) tomorrow, the stark reality of the winter months is upon us and a leading charity is reminding people of the need to support the region’s “hidden homeless”. As it reveals the latest updates on three major projects, Heart of England Community Foundation wants to demonstrate the immediate housing needs facing society. Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that unemployment rose by 62,000 in the three months leading up to July and Payroll data showed that 695,000 less people were employed in England, when compared to March. These statistics serve as a
As COVID-19 continues to affect businesses across the region, Heart of England Community Foundation is doing all it can to support charities within the West Midlands’ communities. Since the Foundation’s urgent appeal in March, it has now awarded over £1million to a range of local projects, helping them to adapt and survive COVID-19, all whilst offering vital services to those who need them most. The Foundation first launched its Coronavirus Resilience Fund on 23rd March, ensuring that money was available to support the vital services needing help during these unprecedented times. As a result of the pandemic, it has been reported