We’re kicking off with the Sheffield College and IIC partnership for the 500 Purpose Challenge:
The IIC 500 Purpose Challenge has been developed by Investors In Community (IIC) to give young people the opportunity to broaden and develop their skillsets. Through a series of events or development of a mini enterprise, students start to engage with mentors and businesses to formulate their challenge ideas.
From there seed funding of £50 is provided by businesses registered on the IIC platform. The young people are then helped and guided through a planning phase to kick start and shape their ideas further. Individuals or teams on the Purpose Challenge look to turn their £50 in to £500+ with the final total being donated to a charity or community project agreed on by the students and/or business.
The first to get involved in this project were The Door Openers, UNIHEADS Ambassadors from The Sheffield College. Shani Hammon, Employer Relationship Coordinator for the award-winning employer skills academies programme at The Sheffield College, said: “We were initially drawn to this project because this was an opportunity for the students to develop their skills and understand projects centred around social value. It was also an opportunity for the College to build relationships with local businesses and other community organisations.”
The Sheffield College were delighted with the successful outcome. Shani Hammon said: “Raising money for Door 43 at Sheffield Futures has allowed the students to see how important mental health and wellbeing is for young people. This organisation was the reason we launched the UNIHEADS Mental Health and Wellbeing Academy so it’s wonderful to see our students getting involved in this support through exciting challenges such as these.
Read the full case study here.
Investors In Community Interview Julia Goodman:
“Find your authentic core and then carry that everywhere, because your individual voice will make a difference.”
So, Julia, how has the charitable sector changed over the years you have been involved? Are you finding more businesses and individuals getting involved now people, especially Millennials and Gen Z’s, are demanding this change?
Julia: Funnily enough, just this morning I was notified that the boss of a big private equity firm that we work with has said that their next offsite is going to have ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) at its heart. ESG is something that I have been on the periphery of for years in terms of how I have tried to influence people, certainly in my business work, to connect with and act on what they know to be right, to let their goodness and conscience dictate their behaviour and that of their company.
What are your driving values in business today and how do they align with IIC’s values?
Julia: I have a very emotionally strong connection to doing what is right, with community being a huge passion of mine, but I also have quite a commercial side to me too; that came from my family, going back six generations, who were all creative people, artists, actors, singers, who also ran businesses. I think that mix aligns pretty closely with IIC’s values.
If you could offer one piece of advice on finding your brand, what would that be?
Julia: Finding your voice is about listening to who you know you are and working with that first. If you had something to say, what would it be? And how would you say it? That’s key! My mantra is “Show up … stand up … speak out … be you!”
Read the rest of the interview here.
Camphill Village Trust Host ‘Crafternoon Tea’ and the IIC team couldn’t wait to get involved!
“Raising funds for Camphill Village Trust means you are helping more people with learning and other disabilities to lead a life of opportunity.
The people we support have been involved in the project from the beginning, helping to design the activities and hosting their own parties. This really is a team effort!
Our community members have helped put together some craft kits containing everything you’ll need for some creative activities for you and up to four guests to enjoy.”
Check out the IIC team enjoying our own Crafternoon Tea to support Camphill Village Trust!
Sense, Left Out Of Life Campaign:
A message from Sense:
Dear All,
The severe impact of the pandemic has meant that loneliness has dramatically increased over the last year, with many disabled people isolated and cut off from their local communities.
We’re concerned that unless we support and prioritise disabled people as we start to come out of lockdown, they will be left behind. Please take a well spent moment from your busy lives to check out our #LeftOutOfLife campaign.
Join with us. Watch and share our very short film to hear how small changes can really make a big difference in someone’s life. This campaign aims to tackle loneliness by asking everyone to Think, Ask, Include and help make our local areas more inclusive for disabled people everywhere.
Here are some other fundraising ideas: holding a blind tasting, baking, quiz night, firewalk, skydive, dress down friday or even an abseil. The choices are endless!
A Word From Our Ambassador, Tagore Ramoutar:
“I am really excited to become part of the Investors In Community (IIC) family, and to be an Ambassador helping raise awareness of this wonderful platform that brings together charities and companies to create social impact and also creates a way of measuring CSR activity and make it visible.
I value the chance to engage with anyone who is interested in this as I feel passionately from a business side that the benefits of being able to measure CSR activity are huge. I would love to help create a community or ecosystem of local charities and companies in Oxfordshire and / or the craft drinks community.”
Tagore is an award-winning entrepreneurial director and advisor specialising in new business start-ups, high growth potential SME’s and craft drinks.
He is the Co-Founder of The Oxford Artisan Distillery (and was Managing Director from 2018 to 2020). He has over 30 years commercial and management experience (including eleven years at board level and 15 years international experience) and a strong track record of achievement in senior roles in consumer and retail focused industries.
In 2019 he won IOD London and South Director of the Year for start-ups. He remains a Director of Still On The Hill Ltd (the legal name of The Oxford Artisan Distillery) and he is the distillery’s representative on the embryonic English Whisky Guild. In addition he is a director of another start-up distillery in Wiltshire – Ten Hides.
Finally on a more personal note Tagore is the author and publisher of a unique range of children’s books that encourage outdoor exploration by linking the real world with reading and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
We thought we would share some amazing charities with you as well!
Pulse 1 Cash For Kids
Pulse 1 Cash for Kids is a grant-giving charity helping the children that need it most across West Yorkshire, The Yorkshire dales, Harrogate and York. Their mission is to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in their communities. Support them here.
Derbyshire Community Transport
At Derbyshire Community Transport they believe that no one, regardless of age, ability/disability, financial status or domestic location should be prevented from enjoying a full life because of lack of access to transport. They are also seeking a new trustee, volunteer here.
Medical Detection Dogs
Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to detect the odour of human disease. And they are on the lookout for; Speakers, Fundraisers,
Collection Box Co-ordinators and Leaflet Distributors. Support them here.
The Lake District Calvert Trust
The Lake District Calvert Trust delivers specialist, outdoor activity breaks for people with disabilities using uniquely adapted facilities. Business Leader Sue Howorth is currently doing the Wainwright Challenge in support of them, support her project here.
Join Investors In Community today to deliver your social impact and align with your purpose.