Monday 30 November 2009

The Good Food Show




On a visit to this years Good Food show, I noticed a Help For Heroes stand, selling their cookery book. There was a RAF fighter pilot signing copies of the book. I spoke to her about our ideas and she seemed really keen!

The guys from Master chef, Greg Wallace and John Torode spoke of their support of the charity throughout the event, asking everyone to go and give a few pound to the charity, and stating that they would sign a book to auction......maybe they would be prepared to give something for us to auction?


Charity Facts

http://www.charityfacts.org/

Charity Facts provides general information about the charities sector for consumers. This is a screen shot of the sight showing the results of their poll.

Posted by: Michelle Nielsen

Saturday 28 November 2009

Help For Heroes hits the high street

Fundraiser ... Help for Heroes band

SUN-backed charity Help for Heroes is about to hit the high street for the first time.

Usually all the H4H merchandise is only available online.

But a surge in demand means that for the first time products that directly support our troops will be on sale at new store ahead of Christmas.

The special shop will open for two days in Uxbridge, Middlesex, on December 5.

Supporters will be able to purchase wristbands, Christmas cards, books and calendars as well as meeting some of the wounded Servicemen and women who H4H works to support.


http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2744342/Help-for-Heroes-hits-High-Street.html

Posted by: Grace Vernon

GuideStar UK


GuideStar allows you to log on and see how charities are managed and provides valuable information about charities.
http://www.guidestar.org.uk

Posted by: Michelle Nielsen

Friday 27 November 2009

Iraq war legitimacy 'questionable' says ex-diplomat

Iraq war legitimacy 'questionable' says ex-diplomat

Sir Jeremy on support for the invasion

The Iraq war was of "questionable legitimacy" even though it is unlikely to be proved illegal, a former senior diplomat has said.

Sir Jeremy Greenstock, the UK's ambassador to the UN in 2003, said the invasion did not have the backing of most UN members or the UK public.

But he said he believed the US and UK had "established" its legality and that it had never been challenged in court.

The inquiry is looking into the background to the 2003 invasion.

Inquiry members, headed by Sir John Chilcot, are initially concentrating on UK-US relations in the run-up to war and the UK's assessment of Iraq's military threat.

On its fourth day of public hearings, the inquiry examined failed efforts to resolve the Iraq crisis through the United Nations.

Legality

Sir Jeremy, the UK's permanent representative to the UN between 1997 and 2003, was centre stage in UK-led efforts to negotiate a second UN resolution on Iraq in early 2003, seen by many countries as necessary to directly authorise military action.

But Tony Blair told the House of Commons the French had said they would veto a second resolution and it never went to a Security Council vote.

It is also known that other security council members would not back the resolution, leading critics to claim the subsequent invasion was illegal.

If you do something internationally that the majority of UN member states think is wrong, illegitimate or politically unjustifiable, you are taking a risk in my view
Sir Jeremy Greenstock

Sir Jeremy said he believed existing UN resolutions provided "sufficient legal cover" for future action but only if Iraq was found to be in material breach of its disarmament obligations.

Asked about the legality of the war, he said there were different opinions and that a "final and conclusive" verdict was never likely to be made.

But he added: "If you do something internationally that the majority of UN member states think is wrong, illegitimate or politically unjustifiable, you are taking a risk in my view."

"I regarded our participation in the military action against Iraq in March 2003 as legal but of questionable legitimacy in that it did not have the democratically observable backing of a great majority of member states or even perhaps of a majority of people inside the UK.

"There was a failure to establish legitimacy although I think we successfully established legality in the UN....to the degree, at least, that we were never challenged in the UN or International Court of Justice for those actions."

'Grounds for war'

Sir Jeremy also said he believed war may "possibly" have been averted if the weapons inspectors had been given more time in early 2003.

INQUIRY TIMELINE
November-December: Former top civil servants, spy chiefs, diplomats and military commanders to give evidence
January-February 2010: Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and other politicians expected to appear before the panel
March 2010: Inquiry expected to adjourn ahead of the general election campaign
July-August 2010: Inquiry expected to resume
Report set to be published in late 2010 or early 2011

However, he said he still felt that Iraq had been concealing some illegal materials or programmes: "I still believe there is something there but it is a question of what that something is."

Sir Jeremy said Iraq's representative at the UN told him in September 2002 that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction (WMD) but the UK government was not in a position to ascertain whether this was true.

He said UK policy was driven by the belief that Iraq had WMD and any talk from the US of other motivations for war, such as regime change, were "unhelpful".

Throughout the process the UK government believed dealing with Iraq was in the national interest, he said, but felt this should be done through "collective action" and on the basis of UN authorisation.

UK policy was solely focused on disarming Iraq, Sir Jeremy told the inquiry

He said he did not "recall" being consulted about an alleged change in the UK's approach to Iraq in April 2002, the point when critics of the war say that Mr Blair signed up to military action.

But, by early 2003, it was clear the UK had given a "commitment" that should the US go to war, the UK would fight alongside it.

Second resolution

UN Security Council resolution 1441, agreed in November 2002, gave Saddam Hussein a "final opportunity" to declare his weapons stockpile and co-operate with inspectors or face serious consequences.

WITNESSES ON FRIDAY
Sir Jeremy Greenstock, UK Permanent Representative to the UN 1997-2003

Asked about the UK's objective in seeking a further UN resolution, Sir Jeremy said one of the reasons was to try and obtain "the safest possible legal grounds for use of force should that be necessary".

Although the US felt it did not need a further resolution to justify military action it realised that the UK, as its main ally, would benefit from this, explained the former ambassador.

The failure to do this was damaging in terms of public perceptions of the reasons for going to war, he added.

"What we were left with by the failure of diplomacy was the US set of reasons for going to war with Iraq not the British ones."

Reacting to Sir Jeremy's comments, the Lib Dems said he had been put in an "impossible situation" by Tony Blair and the inquiry needed to thoroughly examine questions about the war's legality.

The SNP said the government's case for war was being undermined "with every evidence session".

The government has always insisted it acted in good faith over Iraq on the basis on the intelligence available.

The Iraq inquiry, set up by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in July, is due to report by the end of 2010.

He and Mr Blair are expected to be among future witnesses along with former senior advisers and military figures.

Posted By: Lottie Mather

Thursday 26 November 2009

Exchange Fashion Show 25/11/09





Posted By; Lottie Mather

Exchange Fashion Show 25/11/09





On Wednesday 25th November Grace and I attended the seasonal fashion show held at the Exchange Arcade in Nottingham, and Michelle was helping out backstage. The catwalk showcased various outfits from the stores within the Exchange, and offered money off the selected stores for the evening.

This is a great case study for our event, as it was a former Trent student who began the Exchange fashion show, and we felt it worked really well.

Posted By: Lottie Mather

Sunday Times Giving List 09

In 2007, Sunday Times set up a yearly 'Giving List' alongside its yearly 'Rich List'. The 'Giving List' is based on the proportion of a person's wealth compared to how much they give to chariy.

Here is 2009's Giving List.. The people highlighted above are people which significantly give to military charities.

Posted by: Michelle Nielsen

Wednesday 25 November 2009

Top 10 Non Profit Thought Leaders 09

The Sunday Telegraph 22nd Nov 09


Posted by: Michelle Nielsen

Swap Shop Event in London

Posh-swaps, the clothes swap website is holding it’s first ever clothes swap party in London. The party which will include a pamper treatment, glass of wine and goody bag for each guest will be held on 17th September from 7.30pm until 10pm at St Michaels and All Angels church in Chiswick.

Posh-swaps.com is a website where users can swap, buy and sell second hand, vintage and recycled clothes for free. The latest plan to hold clothes swap parties in various locations around the UK in collaboration with Total renewal beauty and Style to Wear, Personal Styling, reflects the growing popularity of clothes swapping and second hand clothes. The website has proved a huge success, but many swappers also want to combine the clothes swapping with a social event and the opportunity to look at the clothes up close. The pampering treatments provided by Total Renewal will allow swappers to really relax and enjoy themselves.

Clothes swapping parties which are also referred to as swishes originated in the US. Their popularity has quickly grown in the UK as consumers abandon fast fashion in favour of sustainable style. This change in consumer behaviour is due to a much greater awareness of both the environmental and ethical issues surrounding fashion and the current economic conditions. The main reason that clothes swapping parties are so popular though is they are a great way for friends to get together and have fun. A great alternative to the traditional girly shopping trip.

Each attendee at the Posh Swap Clothes Swap party will be asked to bring along 5 pieces of unwanted clothing that someone else would be delighted to receive. All of the clothes will be laid out so that swappers can browse and socialise while enjoying a drink before the beginning of the swap is announced. Once the swap begins, swappers can claim up to 5 pieces of clothing. Swappers will also have the opportunity to indulge themselves with either a mini manicure or neck and shoulder massage and one lucky person will receive a styling and makeover session.

September 1, 2009 by annabellaplum

http://centreforsustainablefashion.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/swap-shop-event-in-london/

This is a great case study for us to take inspiration from when thinking about our Swap Shop for our Boots for Troops campaign

Posted By: Lottie Mather

Tuesday 24 November 2009

Look to the Stars


"Look to the Stars is the web's number one source of celebrity charity news and information, covering what the top stars are doing to make a positive difference in the world. The site includes exclusive interviews and a database where fans can learn about their favorite stars' good deeds. "


Posted by: Michelle Nielsen

Wives and daughters strip for charity

Saucy... Army wives and daughters strip offi

A GAME group of Army wives and daughters - or Wads - have found a saucy way to raise cash for charity - they have stripped off for charity.

A total of 18 women - 16 wives and two daughters of men serving with 3 Rifles who are based at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh - posed for the calendar photoshoot.

In one group photo, camouflage nets and a climbing wall are used to protect their modesty and in December's shot the ladies are wearing just jackets and boots with a Christmas tree in the background.

Sammi McWilliams, who is 34 and married to a lance corporal in the 3rd Battalion The Rifles, said: "I came up with the idea in October but I did not know if there would be enough time to organise and shoot it before December.

"The general consensus was that it was fun. With the lads away, I thought it would be a good way of keeping the wives occupied. I think the ladies are all looking forward to seeing the calendar when it is published."

Speaking about the moment she told her husband of the idea, Mrs McWilliams said: "He just laughed. He just thought it was funny and I don't think he believed I would go through with it."

Most of the money raised from the calendars will go to the 3 Rifles Wives Fund, which supports wives left bereaved or caring for a husband injured in service.

The remaining 15 per cent will go to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Mrs McWilliams said: "I think the bereavement fund is important to everybody. There have been a few bad tours with a number of deaths and quite a few injured and it's affecting everyone."

Speaking about why the BHF was chosen, Mrs McWilliams said: "There are a few children in the battalion who have a heart condition, my own included."

Her two-year-old daughter Skye has a condition called hypoplastic left heart where parts of the left side of the heart do not develop properly and valves get blocked.

Skye has had two operations on her heart and is expected to have a transplant when she is a teenager, Mrs McWilliams said.

Asked what the reaction of soldiers in 3 Rifles had been to the calendar idea, Mrs McWilliams said: "The majority think it's hilarious and have been very supportive.

Advertisement


"Even when the photos were being taken, the lads made sure they weren't around and were very respectful."

The women in the calendar pictures are aged between 19 and 36. The photos were taken at the battalion's base by Kevin Doust during a two-week period.

The calendars, which cost £10 each, are expected to be available later this month.

For more information visit Rifles Angels on the Facebook website.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2723423/Army-girls-strip-for-charity.html


Posted by: Grace Vernon

Help For Heroes a top force in the UK

SUN-backed charity Help for Heroes is the second most influential non profit-making body in the UK, a poll has revealed.

The organisation for wounded troops beat household names including Greenpeace, the BBC World Service and the Tory Party.

It is credited with persuading millions to back Our Boys.

To date, the charity has raised £32million for our heroes.

Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates's foundation was No1 in the Thought Leadership Index.



Read more:http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2743256/Sun-backed-charity-Help-For-Heroes-is-a-top-force-in-the-UK-says-poll.html#ixzz0XmQ5hSPP

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2743256/Sun-backed-charity-Help-For-Heroes-is-a-top-force-in-the-UK-says-poll.html

Posted by: Grace Vernon

Monday 23 November 2009

Charity Campaign Logos


These are various charity campaign logos that I have taken inspiration from when creating our Boots for Troops logo

Posted By: Lottie Mather

Tuesday 17 November 2009

Destroy/Rankin article



Dazed and Confused Vol 2. Issue 79 November 2009

Posted By: Lottie Mather