Pilotlight News
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 Announcement
Launched in September 2007, Pilotlight Scotland is the first replication of the very successful Pilotlight model, and has quickly established itself as a key player in the capacity building arena and is currently working with 10 charities and upward of 50 senior business people.
As a result of the energy, drive and commitment of Angela Mc Cusker, Pilotlight is now well recognised in the Scottish market. Angela firmly believes the foundations are in place from which Pilotlight can grow and develop in the future, and that this is an appropriate time for her to move forward and focus her energies on further development of her own business.
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.
