Pilotlight News
3 New Charities!
Pilotlight Scotland is delighted to announce that a further 3 charities have recently been approved to receive mentoring and business skills coaching from Pilotlight’s teams of business professionals.
Pilotlight in The Guardian
We thought you’d like to know that Fiona Halton, our Chief Executive, has an article in the Society section of The Guardian today titled “Small Bodies Deserve a Fair Chance.”
April Letter from Fiona
Fiona Halton
Chief Executive, Pilotlight Group
A recent article in The FT (30th March) hailed a “Surge in charity advice work from executives.” It took Pilotlight as the example. In October last year we projected numbers volunteering to Pilotlight to fall, but instead they are rising. That goes for both new members and renewals. It’s not just surprising, it is moving.
Women’s Charities Under Threat
In March, the Women’s Resource Centre published a report about funding for women’s charities that showed one in five women’s organisations closed between 2004 and 2007. Yet the needs of society’s vulnerable women are growing. One in four UK women experience domestic violence at some point in their lives, and two women are killed every week by current or former partners. In the last decade the number of women in prison has nearly doubled, from 2,305 in 1996 to 4,463 in 2006. In 2006 only 20% of MPs, 10% of high court judges and 10% of executive directors of FTSE 100 companies (0.4% from black minority ethnic/BME groups) were women. Women in full-time employment earned 17.2% less than men in 2006; for part-time workers the gap was 35.6%.
Pilotlight People: Phil Zeidler
CHAIRMAN, POWERAMP MUSIC AND IGO4 INSURANCE
Phil is our first featured individual in the new Pilotlight People section, which will appear in each email newsletter. Phil has been a team member on the Charity Technology Trust project over the past year. Here are some of his thoughts on philanthropy and the experience with Pilotlight.
April News in Brief
Read Pilotlight’s latest news.
Pilotlight Featured in FT
Pilotlight is featured in the Financial Times today in an article discussing a recent increase in charitable work by executives.
Scottish Charity Wins!
The Junction wins Glaxo SmithKline Impact Award, picks up Bronze Award in the Voluntary Organisations Manager of the Year and is also nominated for the HSBC Edinburgh Charity of the Year.
London Chief Executive in Press
Third Sector’s “My Week” gave a snapshot of Deborah Xavier’s schedule on behalf of Pilotlight London. The article is a great example of the energy and diversity of her role with the organisation.
February Letter from Fiona
“During a downturn it is imperative that the charity remains strategic in its focus…”
Managing in a Downturn, PricewaterhouseCoopers, November 2008
I am delighted to announce that Pilotlight is coming to Wales.
The Pilotlight Pit Stop
Pilotlight has been keenly watching for signs of impact of the credit crunch on small charities and social enterprises in the UK. In her introduction, Fiona quotes from PricewaterhouseCoopers‘s “Managing in a Downturn” paper summarising the results of a survey of voluntary sector Finance Directors and Fundraisers carried out in November 2008.
Who We Can Best Help
We know that charities need the sort of support Pilotlight can offer now more than ever. If you know of a charity or social enterprise planning to grow, or looking for business advice during the economic downturn please do tell them — both about Pilotlight and about our criteria. Pilotlight has an impressive track record of helping small charities effectively. Over the years we have built up a picture of which charities will most benefit from our process.
Safeguarding Children Services
Safeguarding Children Services (SCS) is an award-winning social enterprise which works with children and young people aged 5-19 years old who have been abused or are at risk in Merseyside. Under the careful guidance of its founding Directors, Jaci Quennell and Elaine Allison, SCS has worked with over 200 young people since it was founded in 2005.
February News in Brief
Read Pilotlight’s latest news.
Sunday Times Features Outsiders
The 15th February edition of the Sunday Times Magazine featured one of Pilotlight’s partner charities, Outsiders, and its founder Tuppy Owens.
London Recruits for Member Post
Pilotlight London is currently recruiting for a Membership & Business Development Manager to recruit new Pilotlighters.
Fiona Halton on Philanthropy in the FT
Chief Executive of Pilotlight Group, Fiona Halton, provided her perspective on philanthropy in the 3rd January “How to Give It” section of the Financial Times.
Pilotlight Charity Press in The Times
In the December 19, 2008 edition of The Times, Pilotlight partner charity Safeguarding Children Services garnered excellent press coverage, highlighting the charity’s transformation in applying a more business-like mind in its operations. Service Director, Jaci Quennell, offers her first-hand perspective.
Financial Downturn Affects Charities
Pilotlight Group’s Chief Executive, Fiona Halton, was quoted in a recent article in the Financial Times, acknowledging the impact charities are experiencing due to the global financial downturn.
Pilotlight Scotland Strengthens Membership Team
Pilotlight Scotland expands the membership team as the organisation continues to grow.
“Guide to Giving” Third Edition
In the Third Edition of Philanthropy UK’s “Guide to Giving,” Pilotlight London Chief Executive Deborah Xavier offers her perspective on volunteering time, and how to make the most effective impact within the charity sector.
Celebrating 2008 and Looking Ahead
A note from Fiona Halton, Pilotlight Chief Executive
The Pilotlight Effect 2008
Pilotlight Evaluation Manager Dan Ritman’s 2008 Evaluation Report demonstrates that Pilotlight charities go on to achieve amazing results.
Marketing & Comms Skills Needed
Pilotlight London is always looking for new Pilotlighters, but this winter we particularly need people with marketing and communications expertise. These skills are essential for our charities to promote themselves to service users, potential funders and partners, and are most commonly requested by charities undergoing assessment by Pilotlight London.
Pilotlighter Profile: Sally Davis
Pilotlighter Sally Davis has the benefit of drawing on two successful careers as she works with charity partner Ilderton Motor Project. Sally began her career in marketing and advertising, and now coaches senior individuals through career change.
“Becoming a Trustee” Event
Two dozen London Pilotlighters joined us for an experimental evening at Schroders on the 12th November entitled “Becoming a Trustee.” The objective of the event was to provide an introduction to the benefits and challenges of becoming a trustee, and to test whether Pilotlighters would be interested in further events on the subject of governance.
Caux International Conference Series
You may wonder what our dedicated team of Project Managers do when they are not brokering business/charity relationships.
December News in Brief
Read Pilotlight’s latest news.
Looking for a trustee, or thinking of becoming one?
We asked participants at our “Becoming a Trustee” event to tell us whether they would be interested in a matching service for small charities and senior business people looking for trusteeships.
Pilotlight in Spear’s WMS
Philanthropy used to be a matter of throwing cash at a cause and forgetting about it. No longer. Josh Spero on the rise of more creative, entrepreneurial and engaged forms of giving.
EVPA November Newsletter Notes Pilotlight’s Effect
Pilotlight’s impact is reviewed in an article written in the European Venture Philanthropy Association November newsletter.
New vacancy at Pilotlight London
Pilotlight London seeks Evaluation Officer
Exposure in Philanthropy UK Newsletter
Pilotlight is proud to be included in the November edition of Philanthropy UK’s newsletter. The 2008 Evaluation Report highlights are included, demonstrating Pilotlight’s impact on its partner charities.
Pilotlight Featured in The Times
The Times newspaper today features one of our Pilotlight charity partners, Globetown Learning Community. Jackie Barnes, Chief Executive of Globetown, worked with Pilotlighters Mark Evans, Stephen Prior, David Rossington, and Jeffrey Twentyman through the Pilotlight process; Jackie credits Globetown’s success today largely to the help she received from her Pilotlight team. Globetown’s work in Tower Hamlets aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people in their community.
Pilotlight Charities Continue to Grow
A Note From Fiona Halton, Chief Executive of Pilotlight Group
October News in Brief
Read Pilotlight’s latest news.
New Director for Scotland: Chris Horne
Pilotlight is delighted to welcome Chris Horne as the new Director of Pilotlight Scotland. Chris was previously Managing Consultant at Edinburgh-based Head Resourcing.
Trustee Training
by Deborah Xavier, Chief Executive, Pilotlight London
One of the most common challenges facing the small and medium-sized charities and social enterprises we work with at Pilotlight is governance. The first step to establishing an effective Board of Trustees is attracting people with the right mix of skills, and few of the charities we work with have a high enough profile to be able to pick and choose. Neither do they have the time and money to conduct recruitment drives that reach beyond their immediate circles.
Pilotlighter Profile: Holly Cato
Holly Cato is one of Pilotlight London’s most experienced Pilotlighters having worked with our charities since autumn 2003, and has supported charities working in fields as diverse as domestic violence, palliative care and women in secure hospitals. Holly is a branding consultant who specialises in naming brands and companies, and brings a very particular set of skills with relevance to several of our charities as they plan for ambitious growth programmes.
Celebrate World Mental Health Days
Celebrate World Mental Health Days with CoolTan Arts.
Pilotlighter Profile: David Rivington
Profile of London Pilotlighter David Rivington, who brings to our charities the benefits of a varied career which has included jobs as an oil field engineer in jungles and deserts, an internship as a journalist at the Economist and senior business development roles at Apple Computers.
Social enterprise: A new opportunity
Noting that the government has high expectations of social enterprise, Fiona Ramsay of Pilotlight Scotland asks: what can it deliver, and how will it rise to such a challenge?
Pilotlight at No 10 Downing Street
On 13th May Sarah Brown hosted a Pilotlight event at No.10 Downing Street. The event was a great success, with over 90 attendees.
Sculptures by Cooltan Artists
Sculptures about mental health, by people who experience mental health issues, were unveiled on Saturday 4th June.
The work is appearing in the strangest places and is part of the Camberwell Arts Festival and the CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle.
Tender in National Lottery vote
The National Lottery awards a public vote to our partner charity Tender. Every vote counts, so they really appreciate your support.
MBE for founder of Unique
Great news for one of Pilotlight’s partner charities - Unique, the Rare Chromosome Disorder Support Group. The founder of Unique, Edna Knight was made a MBE in the Birthday Honours List 2008. Congratulations from all at Pilotlight.
Piotlight in the Evening Standard
The Evening Standard wrote a wonderful piece on Pilotlight on the 2nd June. Thank you to Katy Emck from our partner charity Fine Cell Work for being involved. The article clearly outlines the Pilotlight process, what business member and charities can gain from the experience and future plans for growth.
Pilotlight Scotland seeks new Director
If you’d like to join our dynamic team in Scotland then please go to our Vacancies page for more details.
Pilotlight Scotland keeps on growing
Pilotlight Scotland is well on its way to achieving its target of 125 members by the end of 2009. We currently have 56 members, including corporate membership from ScottishPower, DHL, Lloyds TSB Scotland, The Student Loans Company, First State, Accenture and HBOS.
Pilotlight is Growing
A Note From Fiona Halton, Chief Executive of Pilotlight
We now have 225 Pilotlighters working with 49 charities in two locations: London and Scotland. We hope to have a Cardiff office open and running by January 2009.
Pilotlight is growing. More importantly, the charities we work with are also growing: a crucial measure of our Pilotlighters’ impact. Charities being Pilotlit by our teams show a 22% rate of growth, as opposed to an average for the voluntary sector of just under 3%. This translates to much-needed services for more people.
Measuring success – Pilotlight’s new report
One of the challenges that Pilotlight shares with its partner charities is the need to evaluate our work. Increasingly funders are asking charities to demonstrate their impact in terms of the difference they make to people’s lives, not just the numbers they work with.
For some in the sector, evaluation is an issue of public accountability. Martin Brookes from New Philanthropy Capital argues that expecting more information from charities about what they achieve will create a healthier sector; “Scrutiny, analysis and assessment of charities are not just desirable, they’re essential.”
Pilotlight Scotland welcomes new Project Manager
Pilotlight Scotland welcomes new project manager, Dehra Orme, to the team. Dehra brings a wealth of third sector experience to the team, having previously worked at Marie Curie and Maggie’s, where she worked in events and corporate fundraising.
Tender and Nivea Funny Women
The NIVEA FUNNY WOMEN event is coming soon! Celebrate International Women’s Day and stand up against violence to women with some of Britain’s finest female comics.
Pilotlighter receives Good Director Honour for Community Involvement
We are delighted that Graham Clempson, European Managing Director at MidOcean Partners, has been awarded a Good Director Honour for his contribution to Social Responsibility and Community Involvement through his work with and support for Pilotlight. We would like to extend our congratulations and sincere thanks to Graham for his continued support.
Pilotlight on BBC 2’s Working Lunch
Working Lunch featured Pilotlight on its ‘Lunch Lessons’ on Friday 1st February. The report includes interviews with Fiona Halton (Pilotlight Chief Executive), Rachel Archer (Director of JusB, Pilotlight partner charity), and Jane French (Pilotlighter and Managing Director, Citigroup).
Fine Cell Work - January Sale Extended
Fine Cell Work’s January sale of cushions, rugs and quilts hand-embroidered in 22 British prisons. Starts January 29th and will continue into February.
Pilotlight in the Financial Times
Many thanks to all of the Pilotlighters and partner charities who were mentioned in the FT article.
Pilotlight in The Guardian
Pilotlight appeared in The Guardian today. Many thanks to all the Pilotlighters and partner charities who were mentioned.
Philanthropy UK recommends Pilotlight
Philanthropy UK has listed Pilotlight among their seven recommendations for unique and meaningful festive gifts this season. All focus on the gift of giving.
Pilotlight prepares for National Growth
Pilotlight Chief Executive Fiona Halton has announced changes to the London-based Pilotlight team as the organisation prepares to go national. Fiona will lead the Pilotlight Foundation in establishing new Pilotlights and supporting existing ones, ensuring quality, consistency and shared learning.
Deborah Green has become Pilotlight London Chief Executive. Deborah has worked with Pilotlight for four years, since the early days of Pilotlighting. She was Fiona’s deputy in London and then led the set-up phase for Pilotlight Scotland. Deborah and Angela McCusker, Chief Executive for Pilotlight Scotland, will report to Fiona.
Tender teams up with musician
Tender has teamed up with a great musician, Daniel Rachel, to create a fantastic campaign - making a UK chart hit to help stop domestic abuse and sexual violence. Please take one minute to read the information below and see how quickly and easily you can make a big difference. Please forward onto your friends or work intranets.
Tender November 2007 Newsletter
Read about Tender events and see the advertisement for the Administrator and Campaign Co-ordinator job post.
Cooltan Arts Exhibition Dates
Cooltan Arts Exhibition at London City Hall
11th December to 4th January
Pilotlight event unveils national vision
Fiona Halton introduced Pilotlight’s plans to go national to its charities, Pilotlighters and supporters at the recent annual party on 18th October. This move has grown out of the success of Pilotlight London and Pilotlight’s recent launch in Scotland.
Fine Cell Work Exhibition Dates
Fine Cell Work, the prison charity that trains and pays prison inmates to do professional embroidery and quilting, would like to let you know that they are exhibiting at this year’s Spirit of Christmas Fair, at Olympia on Nov 6-11th. They will also be exhibiting at their annual Chelsea Town Hall Sale & Retrospective Exhibition on Nov 15th & 16th.
Pilotlight in the FT
Read about Pilotlight in the Financial Times on the 19th October 2007.
Pilotlight goes national
Leading venture philanthropy charity, Pilotlight, is today launching its plans to go national following the success of its operations in London and Scotland.
Dates to Remember - Cooltan Arts
Important dates to remember with Cooltan Arts.
Cooltan Arts - Arts Market
You are welcome to join Cooltan Arts on Tuesday 11th December between 5.30pm – 8.00pm at City Hall, the heart of London government, for a private view of exciting, experimental and inspiring art, created by our participants and shown in the City Chamber Lobby and Viewing area and to be opened by David Morris –Mayor’s Senior Policy Adviser (Disability issues).
Fraud Seminar
Pilotlight hosted a seminar for its partner charities on 19 September on the subject of Fraud in Charities.
Cooltan Arts in The Guardian
Read about Cooltan Arts and World Mental Health Day in The Guardian.
6th October Cabaret Supports Tender
“Underbling & Vow” and Tender presents “A little of what you fancy”. Get your top hats, silk gloves, evening gowns and dancing shoes ready…you are invited to an exciting one off Cabaret evening on Saturday 6th October 2007 in support of Tender’s work.
13 October World Mental Health Day
Celebrate World Mental Health Day on Saturday 13th October 2007 with Cooltan Arts. Cooltan Arts is celebrating ten years of work providing free creative activities for people experiencing mental distress with a sponsored walk in Southwark which coincides with October’s World Mental Health Day. Put your best foot forward, shod with your most comfortable walking shoes and come in fancy dress (optional) this October. Join the Cooltan Arts participants and their supporters on Saturday 13th October 2007 for a circular jolly starting at the Maudsley Hospital SE5 via Tate Modern SE1.
Join Fine Cell Work for Autumn Tour
Fine Cell Work, the prison charity that trains and pays prison inmates to do professional embroidery and quilting, would like to let you know that their ‘Autumn Tour’ takes off next month in London. The Exhibition will take place at Clothworkers’ Hall, London on Tuesday 2nd October 2007. The exhibition will open from 12.30 - 6pm with a drinks reception from 6 - 9pm.
Action Space In Affordable Art Fair
Action Space is the chosen charity this year for the Affordable Art Fair and they are really excited and proud to be a part of this high profile event. The Affordable Art Fair is in Battersea Park on the 17th -21st October 2007 and will include work by all of the Action Space groups to be exhibited and sold.
The launch of Pilotlight Scotland
Pilotlight Scotland launched last week and is now operational in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Five charities are undergoing assessment and we have signed up 20 Scottish members already, including corporate membership from HBOS, Scottish Power, PWC, Openreach (part of the BT Group), Aegon, BDO Stoy Hayward and Adam & Co. We are very excited about our first project meetings which are due to take place in October.
Read about Pilotlight on BBC online
Pilotlight was featured in BBC Online on the 29th August 2007. The article outlines that Pilotlight has developed a way for business professionals to give their strategic skills and experience in an effective way to charities instead of just writing a cheque. Two of the charities that Pilotlight has worked with, Fine Cell Work and Centre of the Cell, outline what the ‘useful criticism’ of business experts has done for their charities.
Summer news from Pilotlight
We are happy to announce that we have taken on seven new charities since the Spring from a wide range of areas. HBOS have also joined us as a corporate member in London, and we have a number of new individual members joining in the next few months including a marketing specialist and lawyer-turned-author. Of all of the charities now evaluated, nearly 90% of them have seen an increase in at least one major area of their capacity through working with Pilotlight.
New changes in Member Communication
Member Feedback Lunches have been very useful and insightful and have had good feedback. These sessions are an opportunity for you to share experiences across charities and share with us if we could be doing things differently. However, to make it easier for you to attend we are changing these to Member Feedback Breakfasts - these will be held bi-monthly from 8.30am - 10am.
Wales and West Country Office Planned
Deborah Green will shortly begin a feasibility study on the suitability of Wales and the West Country as our next Pilotlight office. If you have any contacts we could speak to about Pilotlight in this region please do let us know. These could be businesses, charities or personal contacts with knowledge of the corporate or voluntary sectors in the region.
