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Author: Philip Webb

Top Ten Pandemic Fundraising Ideas

Posted on by Philip Webb
  1. Virtual Bucket Collection
  2. Donate Your Commute
  3. Buy a Christmas Present
  4. Home Challenges
  5. Virtual Quiz Night
  6. Donate Your Skills
  7. Virtual Car Boot Sale
  8. Fitness Fundraising
  9. Virtual Guess It
  10. Isolation Challenges

 

  • Virtual Bucket Collections:

Many charities make money through spare change Bucket Collections so this was a huge loss for charities in the lockdown. So, we have made it possible to get small donations on the Investors In Community platform just as you would in a bucket collection. Make it happen, get a project on Investors In Community today.

 

  • Donate Your Commute:

We have saved a lot of money not needing to commute to an office, why not donate what you’ve saved, or even half of what you’ve saved to a Charity Of Your Choice.

 

  • Buy a Christmas Present

Every year donating shoe-boxes filled with presents is done and this year it feels more important than ever, we have Buddy Bag on the IIC platform which is a “backpack that contains all the essential items a child needs. They include toiletries, pyjamas, socks and underwear. They also include comfort items such as a book, a photo frame and a teddy bear. A Buddy Bag is something a child can call their own, no matter where they go.” Why not Donate To Buddy Bag this Christmas.

 

  • Home Challenges

Home challenges could be anything, challenge yourself to make an intricate obstacle course and film you trying to complete it. Challenge yourself to bake a cake without a recipe, or maybe spend 24 hours not looking at your phone and film yourself trying to navigate your day, put the videos on Youtube and donate the ad revenue!

 

  • Virtual Quiz Night

Zoom and other platforms have made communication with large groups of people so easy during this pandemic and virtual quiz nights have become increasingly popular, ask people to donate the price of a drink and a ticket, which is what they would usually spend at a pub quiz and Enjoy Your Night!

 

  • Donate Your Skills

We all have something we’re good at, right? You could arrange a virtual yoga, cooking or art class and ask people to donate to join in, then donate all the earnings to your favourite charity!

 

  • Virtual Car Boot Sale

Car boot sales are an excellent way to sell items you no longer need, why not clear out your wardrobe and sell on your old items, you’re saving the environment and doing it all for charity, what could be better?

 

  • Fitness Fundraising

Set yourself a run, walk, hike or cycle challenge. Why not try to run, walk or cycle the length of the UK? It’s a tough challenge but so rewarding when you’re doing it all for a good cause.

 

  • Virtual Guess It

Guessing how many sweets or guessing the name of the animal is always a huge hit and that doesn’t have to stop now! Showcase your fundraiser on social media and ask people to donate through your project link to enter their guess.

 

  • Isolation Challenges

Not needing to be seen in public is the perfect chance to try everything you’ve ever wanted to try, grow a huge Dumbledore style beard, cut your hair into a pixie cut to see what you’d look like, try an eyebrow slit if you want to! Share with friends and family what your plans are and ask them to donate and even provide suggestions of what they’d love to see you do.

Investors In Community Newsletter – Issue One

Posted on by Philip Webb

Reflecting On 2020 & Looking to The Future of 2021.

In 2020 Investors In Community saw some great achievements amongst the chaos. Early on we received the great honour of being recognised by IBM through Cognition Foundry for an IBM Beacon Award!

“For over 20 years, the IBM Beacon Awards have recognised Business Partners for creating exceptional solutions using IBM products and services. You take risks, solve problems, and use undeterred imagination to spark innovation. Cognition Foundry developed a bespoke platform for Investors In community (IIC) to help companies manage their HSV in a transparent, efficient and engaging way without reducing the value of contributions to charities.”

Then towards the end of the year we were honoured again through East Midlands Chamber, where we won the Community Impact Award for our continuous efforts to better communities throughout the UK. Check out the picture of MD Phil Webb and Business Development Director Dave Clarkson accepting our Community Impact Award!

We also saw success in our company growth after seeing a 68% increase in the number of charities using the platform since March, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, British Heart Foundation and Mind. The growth has resulted in two new additions to our team with Juliet Thompson and Nadea Van Der Merwe appointed as Relationship Manager and Executive Assistant.

IIC Helps Bring Charities Together to Tackle Homelessness in Wakefield.

After Wakefield BID invited us in to help businesses and charities in the Wakefield District, we quickly formed a new partnership with Wakefield Council and the Street Support Network.

The aim was to build an awareness campaign and encourage individuals and businesses to help local charities who are supporting vulnerable people and tackle the challenge of rough sleeping in Wakefield.

The Street Support Network which is active in 26 locations across the UK found the IIC team and platform was the ideal partner to help verify, manage, and measure all the giving from individuals to the charities. IIC worked closely with the Communities Team at Wakefield Council as part of the Councils remit to help the homeless and those who are looking to transform their lives in the City.

The initial project involved IIC bringing 24 charities onboard and is still running across the Wakefield District. The campaign has been so successful that Wakefield Council have also tasked IIC and the platform with a further campaign to help with all the Food Banks from across the district.

Save The Date!

We are also hosting an event on February 24th discussing ‘how to unite purpose in your business through Human Social Value’.

This online event will bring speakers together from current businesses and the next generation of inspiring leaders. Through workshops we will hear from experts on the economic value of social impact, employee engagement and good human social value.

By the end of the event we will have answered these questions and more:

1. How can my business measure its social impact?
2. What process and tools do I have in place to measure our impact?
3. What contribution does my business bring to our communities?

Please purchase your tickets here.

 

A Word From Our Ambassador, Jo Thackwray:

“Giving back is an integral part of who I am, which is why I jumped at the chance when Investors in Community asked me to join them as an Ambassador. Raising awareness of Human Social Value and the positive impact this makes is a shared responsibility for us all, I am so glad to be part of the movement”.

About Jo – With a great passion for developing people, Jo is an EMCCEIA Life & business coach supporting people to find their inner superpowers to have their moment to shine. Alongside coaching, Jo provides a consultancy service to all Charities big or small.

Jo also presents the mid-morning show on Inspire Radio, bringing well-being and self-development tips to the airwaves. However, her most important job is that of mum to her 3 grown-up children. and Granny to her 2 new grandsons. She loves spending time with them and their growing families navigating all life’s many challenges along the way, along with her lovely partner, Alan, and his 2 girls too.

A Word from a Business On IIC, Liniar & Sue Davenport:

Group Marketing Director Sue Davenport commented: “We were attracted to the platform by its ease of use, and particularly the fact the charity receives 100% of the funds, which is as it should be. It was easy to set up our account and although it’s early days, we believe Investors in Community will help us to support more projects than ever, as well as tracking our progress and reporting on the outcomes.”

Liniar is one of the leading PVCu extrusion companies in the UK, designing eco-friendly and energy efficient products such as windows, bi-folding doors, conservatories, decking and fencing.

Formed in 1974, Liniar now employs in excess of 500 people, with a turnover forecast at £100m in 2021.

The company has always had a focus on helping good causes within its local community in Derbyshire, and this was solidified during the pandemic in 2020, with Liniar manufacturing protective visors and donating them to key workers and the NHS.

Liniar decided to partner with Investors in Community at the start of 2021 in order to get its whole workforce involved and make the process of giving and volunteering much easier.

IIC Platform Update:

This feature releases direct debit recurring monthly and single payments into wallets and directly to good causes. Projects have been excluded because of the transaction delay while a Direct Debit is processed.

Users Can Now: 

  • Setup single donations into business or individual’s wallet (3 to 5 days processing time)
  • Setup recurring monthly donations into business or individual wallet (3 to 5 days processing time)
  • Setup single donation directly to a good cause by individuals and businesses (3 to 5 days processing time)
  • Setup recurring monthly donation directly to a good cause by individuals and businesses (3 to 5 days processing time)
  • Recurring monthly payments and transaction history can be managed from the ‘wallet’ tab in individual and business user profile.

We thought we would share some amazing charities with you as well!

The Trauma Centre Ripon

An inclusive trauma centre for adults and children are looking for funds, volunteer guest speakers and gifts for their arts & crafts sessions. If you’re interested in helping this wonderful organisation, please follow this link.

Sense

Sense believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfill their potential. Sense also have their free BSL school, if you’re interested in signing up, please follow this link.

Rain Rescue

Rain Rescue believe every dog and cat deserves the right to a good life free from fear and pain. Just £10.00 will pay for an hour of care for an Animal Care Assistant to help many beautiful animals. If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link.

Street Paws

They provide relief from animal suffering by providing free accessible vet care via a team of veterinary volunteers, to support homeless people and rough sleepers to care for their pets. If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link.

Teenage Cancer Trust

#TeamScape are fundraising for Teenage Cancer Trust and they have raised £280 of their £1,000 goal!  If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link.

Camphill Village Trust

They have officially reached their goal of £500 for their ‘A Life of Opportunity’ project! Your generous donations help them support adults with learning and other disabilities in their home life, work, social and cultural activities through our ten urban and rural communities and services in England. If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link.

Grimm & Co

They have raised £250 of their £2,000 goal to be able to decorate the space in a beautiful, imaginative way so if you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link

Freedom Community Project

Freedom offer free advice and support such as Listening Ear, Debt Advice, Mental Health Support and much more to people within the North East Midlands, South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire. If you’re interested in helping this brilliant organisation, please follow this link.

The Buddy Bag Foundation

The BBF Challenge Box is a unique opportunity for businesses to support a local cause. The challenge is split into two parts. Firstly, team members are tasked with procuring all of the items you’ll need to pack 30 Buddy Bags. Secondly, you’ll get together to pack the bags! If you’re interested in getting involved, please follow this link.

 

We’re so glad you could join us through 2020 and we’re looking forward to doing even more great things in 2021!

2021 – When Social Values Drives Company Profits – are you ready?

Posted on by Philip Webb

Growing pressures from consumers, supply chains, governments, and action groups, has meant that businesses can no longer sidestep or ignore the calls for reform, and to integrate their operations with the social values that drive individuals’ behaviours, whole economies, and all communities.

The old expression “People buy from people” is as true today as ever before, and no amount of technology can replace this statement.

Consumers and supply chains, are now demanding action from companies, to join with the global agenda, to reform working practices, disconnect every action from that of pure profit, and to show leadership in values, to determine success.

Let’s break that down:

Firstly, the consumer, whose voice is heard by the spend patterns they establish. Following and buying from those businesses, who can demonstrate and reliably report on ESG principles, connecting with their stakeholders, community, and planet

Around 80% of Millennial generations, that is everyone of 40 years old and younger, are aligned as never before, with the issues of sustainability; relating to environment, waste, wildlife, energy, child labour, product origin, carbon footprint, to that of our communities, charities, not-for-profits, to rebalance our society to be inclusive, embracing, and values driven

Companies that do not show leadership and show their espouse values, will be shunned in the years ahead, in favour of those that do.

Secondly, the rapidly shifting of requirement within SUPPLY chains. As with the GDPR regulations, where customers insisted on demonstrable compliance to remain as a supplier, so will this manifest in due course with Social Impact reporting, and values

Already we have seen the UK Social Value Act being amended in January 2021, to compel public sector procurement to assess suppliers for the social impact, awarding at least 10% of the supplier score to this aspect.

This will accelerate throughout supply chains in 2021, to compel companies to showcase their position in a transparent way – systems and measurements will be needed, and visibility will be high in public forums for those who do not comply.

Engaging early on will provide an advantage for companies and harnessing the collective power of employees will create a trust-based space for resultant higher productivity and profit.

From top line revenue to bottom line profit, your Social Values can drive performance

For more information about measurement, strategy, marketing, and or starting the shift needed to demonstrate Transparency, Authenticity and Trust, contact me philip.webb@investorsincommunity.org or my team info@investorsincommunity.org

2021 – When Social Values Meets Company Filed Accounts – are you ready?

Posted on by Philip Webb

In 2017, Emmanuel Faber, CEO of Danone said, “A revolution is cooking, what are we going to do about it?”

In 2019, the Business Round Table, chaired by JP Morgan, said – businesses have responsibilities, not just to their shareholders, but to customers, employees, suppliers and to communities.

Transition from “risk thinking” to “Impact thinking” is now a prevailing force within Equity Investor forums, with $31 trillion diverted from traditional businesses, to those who can demonstrate their ESG credentials and impact

Growing pressures from consumers, supply chains, governments and action groups has meant that businesses can no longer sidestep or ignore the calls for reform, and to integrate their operations with the social values that drive individuals’ behaviours, whole economies, and all communities

In 2019, the Impact Weighted Accounts Initiative (IWAI) was established to ascertain the principles and framework for the filing of Impact reports alongside Financial reports, by all larger companies (500 employees +)

The principle is simple: you cannot manage what you cannot measure

In the near future, GAAP accounts (General Accepted Accounting Principles) will be filed alongside GAIP reports (Generally Accepted Impact Principles) 

The measurement systems needed, must be able to demonstrate Transparency, Authenticity and Trust to appear alongside the company balance sheet

When Investors can correlate the business performance with their proven Impact, then the flow of money will move towards those who are performing above the average. Consumer behaviour will then exaggerate the top line, as the flow of consumer choice and spend diverts to those businesses who are able to demonstrate social and environmental IMPACT

There are two main forces, driving this Movement:

Firstly, the consumer, whose voice is heard by the spend patterns they establish. Following and buying from those businesses who can demonstrate and reliably report on ESG principles, connecting with their stakeholders, community, and planet

Secondly, the tsunami of requirement within SUPPLY chains. As with the GDPR regulations, where customers insisted on demonstrable compliance to remain as a supplier, so will this manifest in due course with Impact reporting and values

Estimates of a tipping point, are 50 out of the 500 companies in the Fortune 500 list in the USA, or closer to home, 10% of the spend of the UK Government being based on Impact suppliers.

For more information about measurement, strategy, marketing, and or starting the shift needed to demonstrate Transparency, Authenticity and Trust, contact me philip.webb@investorsincommunity.org or my team info@investorsincommunity.org

2021 marks the business “era of radical visibility” – are you ready?

Posted on by Philip Webb

For the last two decades there has been a gradual shift in attitudes towards planet, people, and community.

Labels such as CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) ESG (Environmental Sustainability Goals) and many others, describes the actions and intent of a growing number of people and businesses towards a better future.
In the last five years an acceleration of efforts and initiatives have grown to show that personal values may be played out in businesses the world over.

Growing pressures from consumers, supply chains, governments and action groups has meant that businesses can no longer sidestep or ignore the calls for reform, and to integrate their operations with the social values that drive individuals’ behaviours, whole economies, and all communities

The measurement of this shift is denoted by something we refer to as IMPACT. This is the effect that our businesses have on the world around us, and is being continually assessed now, by our customers, our employees, and our stakeholders. In short, if your business does not show IMPACT, you will not be in business for much longer.

There is now hardly a company boardroom in the world, where the subject of IMPACT is not being actively discussed.

What is making all these CEO’s change their priorities and focus on the impact their businesses have on their employees, their communities, and the environment, rather than just simply on profit?

In short, they understand, and can see that the values of consumers have changed. They must now deliver and prove positive impact if they want to survive

A recent Accenture report suggest that we are “now in the era of radical visibility, that places companies under the spotlight like never before, as they struggle for competitive advantage in the post COVID-19 era” (Source https://www.accenture.com/_acnmedia/Thought-Leadership-Assets/PDF/Accenture-CompetitiveAgility-GCPR-POV.pdf) 

So, businesses have a simple choice:

Continue in the ways of old and see if they can “ride it out” or adapt and adopt a new way to value their business, their customers, communities, and environment.

Facing a Tsunami, it is often better to locate to higher ground and build on new foundations, rather than “ride it out” and hope this is a passing wave

For more information about measurement, strategy, marketing, and or starting the shift needed to demonstrate transparency, authenticity and trust, contact me philip.webb@investorsincommunity.org or my team info@investorsincommunity.org

Investors In Community Joins Forces With Wakefield BID

Posted on by Philip Webb

In 2020, Investors in Community announced a new partnership with Wakefield BID to help over 450 businesses in the city centre engage with charities and community organisations.

The charitable giving platform, helps firms to find good causes that need help in their local area, as well as measure, record and report other fundraising, donations and volunteering to show the full extent of their social responsibility.

As part of the new partnership, Wakefield BID will be showcasing the Investors in Community platform to its 467 members, encouraging businesses in the city centre to work together on collaborative projects that can make a real difference to those in need.

Via the platform, users can search for local charity projects all around the UK. They can then offer to assist by volunteering, donating, fundraising, offering pro-bono support, gifts and services. In return for their support, individuals earn community credits, which can be linked back to their employer, creating a tangible measure of the team’s CSR output.

For those companies wanting to get involved, each member of staff will get their own Investors in Community profile, opening up the potential for 160,000 new users across Wakefield.

Commenting on the new partnership, BID Director Christine Armstrong, said:

“As the new Director for Wakefield BID I’m keen to introduce both partnerships and initiatives that will create a sustainable future for our City. Investors in Community is one of those partnerships that will bring both the businesses and charity projects together, and from this we see a stronger community spirit forming and will lead to some great success stories we will all be proud to share and shout about”.

Phil Webb, Managing Director of Investors in Community, added:

“It’s a poignant time for us to announce this new partnership as there are many charities across the country experiencing huge funding shortfalls right now. It’s a time when the smallest of actions can make a real difference and, by working alongside Wakefield BID, there’s the potential for city centre businesses to make a big impact.

“When we set up Investors in Community, we wanted to create a way to unite individuals, businesses and charities in one place. It was also vital to us that 100 per cent of the money donated through our platform stays in the charity sector, so Wakefield BID members will know that every penny they raise or donate will go to those who need it most.

“Wakefield is the first BID in the country to use the platform in this way, with an ambition of creating a sustainable legacy via collaborative and meaningful initiatives. We hope to see more organisations of this kind following Wakefield’s lead.”

Wakefield BID joins a number of leading UK organisations that are helped by Investors in Community to manage their corporate social responsibility activity, including Balfour Beatty, Specsavers, Mansfield Building Society and Tomlinson Construction.

For more information, visit https://iiclive.wpengine.com/. Further details on Wakefield BID can be found at Https://Www.Omgwakefield.Com/.