Wednesday 30 September 2009

Clothing Sponsorship

Following a meeting with the buyer and seller from Gio-Goi, they will be willing to sponsor us in the form of lending their AW2010 collection to us for our catwalk show.

www.gio-goi.com


Posted By: Lottie

The Sun Says Labours Lost It



TWELVE years ago, Britain was crying out for change from a divided, exhausted Government. Today we are there again.

In 1997, "New" Labour, shorn of its destructive hard-Left doctrines and with an energetic and charismatic leader, seemed the answer.

Tony Blair said things could only get better, and few doubted him. But did they get better? Well, you could point to investment in schools and shorter hospital waiting lists and say yes, some things did - a little.

ut the real story of the Labour years is one of under-achievement, rank failure and a vast expansion of wasteful government interference in everyone's lives.

Nobody can doubt the dedication of Gordon Brown - or the love and loyalty of his wife Sarah, who delivered a moving plea on his behalf yesterday.

But nor can they disguise the failures of Labour in Government over the last 12 years, many of them embarrassingly laid bare by the PM's own words yesterday.

Britain feels broken . . . and the Government is out of excuses.

Blair took office with bulging coffers, an invincible majority and weak opposition, and he and Gordon Brown could have worked miracles.

But they FAILED on law and order, their mantra "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime" becoming a national joke. Knife murders are soaring. Smirking criminals routinely walk free in the name of political correctness, while decent people live in a virtual police state of snooping cameras and petty officials empowered to spy and to punish.

Labour FAILED on schools. Yes, facilities improved - but four in 10 kids leave those shiny classrooms still unable to read, write or add up properly. We are plummeting down international league tables for maths and literacy, but every year "grade inflation" ensures record GCSE and A-level passes to fuel Government propaganda.

Labour FAILED on health - spending billions on clipboard-ticking target managers instead of on frontline care.

Labour FAILED on immigration, opening our borders without any regard to the consequences. Illegal migrants and bogus asylum seekers poured in.

Labour FAILED the children they claimed to have made their priority. After 12 years of Blair and Brown, Britain is officially the WORST country in the developed world in which to grow up.

Most disgracefully of all, Labour FAILED our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, leaving them to die through chronic under-funding and the shambolic leadership of dismal Defence Secretaries like Bob Ainsworth.

As our forces in two war zones suffered, the scale of Government waste at home was mind-boggling and tragic:

Billions blown employing a useless layer of public service middle-managers like those who condemned Baby P to die.

Billions more spent, insanely, making benefits more lucrative than a pay cheque - creating a huge, idle underclass for whom work is a dirty word. And all along the Government has had one overriding concern: Itself.

Blair and Brown's puerile feud has long been a cancer at the heart of New Labour, their divisions often paralysing the country.

Labour's driving ambition has not been to improve Britain. It has been to retain power at all costs - with no lie judged too great in its ruthless and relentless self-promotion.

They promised a referendum on Europe. They claimed they had ended "boom and bust". They tried to con the public with promises of endless investment, when they knew they would have to cut.

At the 2005 election, we and our readers believed Labour had many failings but gave them one last chance over a lacklustre Tory party.

They have had that chance and failed.

That is a fact Gordon Brown cannot escape, for all his rhetoric yesterday - his rewriting of history, his absurd caricature of the "heartless" Tories, his tired promises to solve problems he has had 12 years to solve.

Britain needs a brave and wise Government to restore our self-respect, our natural entrepreneurship and the will of every family to improve its lot through its own efforts, without depending on handouts.

We need a Government that will cut the red tape strangling businesses, that will make affordable tax cuts to stimulate growth, that will reform wasteful public services.

We need a Government with a genuine will to win the war in Afghanistan and the commitment to give our forces whatever they need to do it.

This will not be a Government that merely talks the talk, as Labour has. It will ACT.

We hope, and pray, that the next Government will have the guts and the determination to do these things. And we believe David Cameron should lead it.

Between now and the election Cameron's Conservatives must earn voters' trust by setting out their promising policies in detail.

If elected, Cameron must use the same energy and determination with which he reinvigorated the Tory Party to breathe new life into Britain.

That means genuine, radical change to encourage self-improvers, not wasting time on internal party wrangling or pandering to the forces of political correctness. It also means an honesty and transparency of Government that we have not seen for years.

We are still a great people and, put to the test, will respond to the challenges we face.

The Sun believes - and prays - that the Conservative leadership can put the great back into Great Britain.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2661063/The-Sun-Says-Labours-lost-it.html

I feel this is very relevant that The Sun newspaper has changed from being an affiliate of the Labour party to being Conservative due to The Sun being a sponsor of Help for Heroes. One of the main reasons as to why The Sun has stopped backing Labour is due to the way the party has failed our troops in Afghanistan.



Posted By: Lottie

Monday 28 September 2009

Military Menswear Trend



ASOS Menswear Newsletter 28/09/09


Posted By: Lottie

These images taken from The Sunday Times magazine could be used for inspiration in our catwalk show or in the interiors of the venue for the event.

Posted By: Lottie

Link to Tackle it gallery that Tallulah recommended we look at

http://www.tackleit.org/gallery.htm

This shows some of the points Tallulah commented on - such as the ball girl waitresses, grass catwalk, size of the room etc

Posted by: Grace

Vernon Kay - H4H follower


Just logged onto Twitter and noticed that Vernon Kay's main display picture is him with a H4H logo. Maybe he would be willing to get involved with our event/campaign?

Take a look at http://twitter.com/OfficialVernonK

Posted by: Grace

Link to all heels that heal auctions

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/heelsthathealauction/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1

Posted by: Grace

Heels that heal - Fantastic campaign





Fabulous magazine (News of the World) launched a new campaign yesterday called 'Hells that heal,' with all profits going to Wellbeing of Women, which funds vital research into reproductive and gynaecological health, from establishing the cause of repeated miscarriages, to cures of ovarian cancer.
Fabulous began their collaboration with WoW (Wellbeing of Women) back in July and have already raised over £100,000 for the charity.
They are also auctioning off items on ebay, all shoes, to be part of their shoe theme

Visit http://www.heelsthatheal.com/ to take a look - its a really inspirational campaign

Posted by: Grace

Meeting with Tallulah


As previously stated, we had a group meet up with ex Nottingham Trent student Tallulah Hall who organised and held the hugely successful event and campaign for charity Tackle it.

Posted by: Grace

Sunday 27 September 2009

Sponsorship Ideas

The Duke of Westminster is in the territorial army and gets involved in various charity events, therefore I thought we could approach his PA in relation to The Duke being a possible sponsor for our event.

The Duke joined the TA (Territorial Army) in 70 as a Private. After long service he became Honorary Colonel in Chief of several regiments, including The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry, 7th Regt. Army Air Corps, and the Canadian Royal Westminster Regiment and Colonel Commandant Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps. In 2004 he was appointed to the new post of Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets) with promotion to the rank of Major-General. He is the first reservist holding such rank since the 30s.

http://www.lonympics.co.uk/new/Gerald_Cavendish_Grosvenor_DukeWest.htm


Posted By: Lottie

Meeting with Tallulah

Following our meeting with Tallulah from Tackle It on Friday 25th September, I have collated a list of key issues we need to think about:
  • Sponsorship
  • The style of the event, will we have a high profile event?
  • Number of attendees at the event
  • Having a speaker at the event who is linked to the charity
  • Having a DVD clip before the show
  • Champagne reception
  • Canopes; Tallulah suggested Stones catering
  • Waitresses; could have a military uniform
  • Chairs if we decide to have a high profile event
  • Goody bags
  • Price of tickets
  • Set a date for the event
  • Invites and when to send them out
  • Split the fashion show into sections
  • We could have a singer at the event, possibly Alexandra Burke from X Factor to sing the heroes song
  • The target audience for our event needs to be decided and focussed on


Posted By: Lottie

Thursday 24 September 2009

Gio-Goi



From carrying out a 2 month placement with Gio-Goi in the PR and Marketing department, Gio-Goi are willing to get involved with our event in the form or sponsorship or advertising.

Posted By: Lottie

Wednesday 23 September 2009

Sat Bains in Nottingham


Sat Bains owns his Michelin star restaurant and hotel in Clifton, Nottingham. He is featured in the Evening Post tonight (23rd Spetember 09) supporting Macmillan Cancer.

It would be worth contacting him to see if he would get involved with our event - maybe donating a meal for 2 for our local charity auction?

Posted by: Grace

Tuesday 22 September 2009

Cheryl Cole sports military trend


Look magazine, 22nd September 2009

Posted by: Grace

Monday 21 September 2009

Dame Vera Lynn: 'Stars need to do more for troops'

Dame Vera Lynn, back on top of the charts, tells Celia Walden politics should not stop us supporting the Forces.

She beat the Arctic Monkeys, the Kings of Leon and the Beatles to the top of the charts this month, becoming the oldest recording artist ever to have a number one album – but the best thing about Dame Vera Lynn is that she hasn't got the faintest idea who the first two are. "They were just names to me," she says, eyes creased up in amusement. "And fairly odd ones at that."

Despite selling more than 24,000 copies of her re-released wartime anthem of hope, We'll Meet Again, in the past week alone, Dame Vera – on a working holiday in Antibes yesterday to promote her autobiography, Some Sunny Day – remains matter-of-fact. "It was a surprise, obviously, a wonderful surprise," she says, agile and Riviera-tanned in white linen slacks and a coral jersey top, "but when my lawyer called to say that I was in the top 10, I assumed he was joking."

At 92 years of age, this Dame is unlikely to let the success go to her head.

"When I hear the songs come on the radio now, it feels so strange," she says, shaking her silver hair, fine as spun glass. "They were from another era, but I suppose something must resonate with people now. Maybe it's because young people are living through another war, albeit a far away one, that they have a renewed interest in what came before."

Released for the 70th anniversary of the declaration of the Second World War earlier this month, Dame Vera's album was originally recorded at the Decca studios when she was just 21.

Something in the unabashedly sentimental nature of the album's title song, We'll Meet Again, coupled with the genuine, unsophisticated quality of her voice struck a chord: overnight Dame Vera became the "Forces Sweetheart", as she is still remembered more than half a century later.

Through the early 1940s, she toured Egypt, India and Burma tirelessly, baring her mosquito-bitten arms in the evening wear that she was given extra coupons to buy, visiting hospitals and setting up her own radio show, Sincerely Yours, especially for the boys.

Her generation will tell you that she was an anti-celebrity from a purer time, a time when stars wore civvies not Versace, a time of poverty and patriotism when entertaining the troops was about them – not you. "I didn't think I was doing anything special," she shrugs. "All I wanted to do was to help the boys. When I went to see them I lived just like they did, in grass huts with buckets of water instead of facilities." Hard to imagine Madonna doing that now. Is she surprised by the lack of public support famous musicians like Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Bob Geldof are prepared to offer the troops now, scared, perhaps, to take a view in a politicised war?

"I am," she nods sadly. "I don't know why it is that they don't do more and I don't think any young stars are writing songs for them either. Look, I don't really know what this war in Afghanistan is all about or what our boys are doing there," for the first time in our interview her voice loses its steadiness. "They're not getting killed for their own country and Gordon Brown needs to bring them home, but public figures shouldn't look at war in terms of politics: they should just think of the boys and want to help them in any way they can. When you're on the front line, you need to know that you are not being forgotten, but that means going out to wherever the war is."

Fame, in her view, comes with its own responsibilities. "It is your duty, part of the business, to take on the tough stuff otherwise you have no right to be in this business.

"I used to bomb around London in my little Austin 10 throughout the raids to appear on stage and if there was a raid before the show was over I would be there, crouching on a floor wherever I could find a big thick wall.

"You can't have it all one way – be on the telly and the radio and make lots of money – and not offer anything to your followers when they need you."

But today's cult of celebrity, she fears, now means that "so many go into the business just to be famous, not because they are passionate about their craft".

Born in East Ham, east London, in 1917 to a plumber father, Vera Margaret Welch started her singing career at local working men's clubs aged just seven. Although traces of her once broad cockney accent still come through, years spent in Ditchling, East Sussex (where she and her daughter Virginia Lewis-Jones from her 58-year marriage to the late Harry Lewis, a clarinettist, now live) have softened it somewhat.

Despite offers of lucrative music contracts in America, Dame Vera chose not to emigrate for one simple reason: "England, through good times or bad, was the only place I wanted to be."

Money and the good life, she insists, have never been a driving force for her, which may be just as well: a copyright loophole means performers stop receiving royalties 50 years after a song was first released, so Dame Vera won't receive a penny from her recent success – they all go to the record label instead.

"Of course it's crazy and they should change that rule, but I've got my lawyer looking into things to see if something fairer can't be arranged," she says vaguely. When I tell her that the Performing Arts Society have calculated she would be earning £18 a minute she just laughs. "Really? Look, as long as people enjoy the records, you know…."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/6207890/Dame-Vera-Lynn-Stars-need-to-do-more-for-troops.html

This article appeared on the front page of the 19th September Daily Telegraph. Hopefully this will encourage stars to give more to the troops and get involved with our charity event.

Posted by: Michelle

Military Trend Menswear

GQ Essentials Autumn/Winter 09

Posted By: Lottie

Evening Post


I have just come off the phone with reporter John Robinson from the Evening Post. He stated that the Evening Post would love to be involved with the event and to contact them sooner to let them know what we would like them to do to help!

Posted by: Grace

Trent FM!


I have just contacted Trent FM and spoke to a lady called Rachel about our event. She stated that as it is 100% charity based they would definitely be willing to get behind us but it depends how booked up their charity department is. I was put forward to an answering machine and left a message stating our cause. I will keep you updated with their response! Fingers crossed girls!

Posted by: Grace

Save The Date magazine


This is the website for our first official reviewer and advertiser for our event! They are an up and coming events magazine for the midlands, launching next month!

http://www.savethedatemagazine.co.uk/

Posted by: Grace

Military Trend



You Magazine 13 September 2009

Posted By: Lottie

Wednesday 16 September 2009

Afghan Heroes


Fallen Soldiers' Mums Set Up Heroes Charity

3:00pm UK, Tuesday September 15, 2009, Katie Stallard, West of England correspondent

The mothers of seven soldiers killed within 24 hours of each other in Afghanistan have launched a new charity in their memory.

Afghan Heroes has been set up to support the families of the fallen and those on the front line who have witnessed the loss of comrades and friends.
The mothers met at RAF Lyneham waiting for their sons' bodies to return home.

Denise Harris, mother of Corporal Lee Scott, who was killed on foot patrol in Helmand province on July 10, told Sky News: "They were soldiers doing their job.

"We, the mothers, have a special bond as our boys came home together. The grief for our families and everyone who knew them has been too painful to bear.

"We feel that there is a need to provide support to all family members. Sadly, we are not alone."

Over 210 soldiers have now been killed in Afghanistan. Many more have returned home injured and there is a need, say these mothers, for a new charity specifically dedicated to the welfare of their friends and family.

Ms Harris said: "As far as we are aware this is the first charity specifically set up to support British troops in Afghanistan.

"We recognise the marvellous work of other charities, many of which have provided years of support for our military.

"But we believe there are now specific needs for the families of those who are serving in Afghanistan that need to be met.

"The level of that need has reached a place where action is needed now."

One of their first campaigns will be the Thank A Soldier initiative, where home comforts will be sent to the front line in care packages.

The aim is for a minimum of one parcel per tour to be sent to each of the 9,000 service personnel in Afghanistan on Armed Forces Day in June next year.

The charity will also create support groups and hold charity events for the families of the fallen so that they can come together and give each other mutual support.

These seven mothers of seven brothers-in-arms are determined that their loss should not have been in vain.

The soldiers whose sacrifice inspired the charity are Corporal Lee Scott, Rifleman William Aldridge, Rifleman James Backhouse, Private John Brackpool, Corporal Jonathan Horne, Rifleman Joseph Murphy and Rifleman Daniel Simpson.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Charity-Set-Up-For-British-Troops-In-Afghanistan-By-Mothers-Of-Seven-Fallen-Soldiers/Article/200909315382009?lpos=UK_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_7&lid=ARTICLE_15382009_Charity_Set_Up_For_British_Troops_In_Afghanistan_By_Mothers_Of_Seven_Fallen_Soldiers_

Posted by: Michelle

Tuesday 15 September 2009

Monday 14 September 2009

Venue Possibility - Lover Lounge












Lover Lounge
1 Whitby Street
London
E1 6JU

Attended an event at this venue, and just thought it was so quirky and fun. Owned by two antique collectors the venue is filled with selection of different types and styles of wall hangings, stuffed animals and just random nit nags. Its a a great size, and could be a great possibility if were to hold our event in London.
Posted by: Michelle

New mission statement

Welcome to Help for Heroes

"It’s about the blokes, our men and women of the Armed Forces. It’s about Derek, a rugby player who has lost both his legs, it’s about Carl whose jaw is wired up so he has been drinking through a straw. It’s about Richard who was handed a mobile phone as he lay on the stretcher so he could say goodbye to his wife. It’s about Ben, it’s about Steven and Andy and Mark, it’s about them all. They are just blokes but they are our blokes; they are our heroes. We want to help our heroes."

www.helpforheroes.org.uk


Posted by: Grace

Trent FM online calendar

30

August 2009

Help For Heroes Bank Holiday Special (Charity)

Location:The trent inn , Shelford Road, Radcliffe on Trent

Time:13:00:00 to 23:55:00

We are holding an all day Help for Heroes Charity Day. We are a family pub and children are welcome to share the fantastic experience with us until 9 o'clock. Hopefully we will have the black thunder crew down to join in the fun. We are putting on a bbq, we have our staff in army dress wear.(feel free to join in, the more the merrier) We have some fab activities going on for ALL to enjoy ! Come and Help us support our Country.


I found this on the Trent FM website - thay have a list of all local events on a digital calendar. If we can get them involved, they might help us advertise by putting us on their calendar


Posted by: Grace

Thursday 10 September 2009

Oxfam DIY - Camden Store - 3rd June

Posted by: Michelle

Live 6th September





Posted by: Michelle

WWF Makeover


Posted by: Michelle

TwitchHiker

"A blogger is attempting to travel as far around the world as possible - only using the help of users of the microblogging site Twitter.

The Twitch Hiker hopes to reach New Zealand and raise money for charity at the same time.He will set off from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne on Sunday - and unless the web community help him, he fears he could spend days sleeping rough at the train station.

The freelance writer has set several rules for the 30-day challenge.

He can only accept travel and accommodation from Twitter members, cannot make arrangements more than three days in advance, and if he only gets one offer, he must take it within 48 hours.

"It's never been done before so it has novelty value," Mr Smith told Sky News Online.

"What it proves is Twitter is more than just a social network - it's a human search engine."

He has amassed 4,500 followers so far and will soon find out if they are just watching his progress or are willing to offer practical help.

Mr Smith hopes to raise at least £3000 by mimicking Barack Obama's fundraising model and persuading lots of people to donate tiny amounts.

"Twitter helps grab people's attention and it casts a wide net," he explained.

"I'll reach £3000 and people don't have to give much for me to achieve that."

As a freelance writer, Mr Smith will be continuing his 'day job' while he travels.

The inspiration came from combining a childhood ambition to hitchhike with the modern twist of using social networking.

"I always promised myself if I had a good idea I'd just go and do it," he said."

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Twitch-Hiker-Paul-Smith-Will-Use-Twitter-Members-HelpTo-Travel-As-Far-As-Possible-For-Charity-Water/Article/200902415230258

He managed to raise £5,285.00. I thought I'd put this on our blog, just because I really liked how he managed to merge a simple way of raising money for charity with thebiggest social networking site, which everyone uses and is aware of.

Posted by: Michelle

Posted by: Michelle

Paul Smith's Charity work

Paul Smith for War Child Charity T-shirt

Paul Smith Jeans have designed a T-shirt to support the launch of the new War Child Heroes charity album. Limited to 250 pieces, this fuchsia slim fit t-shirt features a repeat 'gun flower' print adapted from the featured album cover designed by John Squire.

War Child is charity that helps protect the most hard to reach children hit by war, poverty and marginalisation. February will see the launch of the new War Child Album which fuses the biggest names in music history with today's hottest artists. Tracks include Duffy covering Sir Paul McCartney’s "Live and Let Die", The Kooks covering The Kinks "Victoria" and Hot Chip covering Joy Division’s "Transmission etc.

All proceeds for both the album and the Paul Smith Jeans T-shirt will raise money for this important charity.

The t-shirt is made from Pima cotton and features an American seam across the shoulders. War Child logo is printed in blue on the nape and a Paul Smith signature logo tab is sewn to the left side seam.




I think Paul Smith would be great to try and contact for Help for Heroes. He has helped up with a number of charities including War Child 2009 (above) and the NSPCC 2007.

Posted by: Michelle

Tuesday 8 September 2009