What We Do
Pilotlight enables small, ambitious charities and social enterprises to help a greater number of people, more effectively. We have a significant impact on people’s lives from children with learning disabilities to isolated older people. We are currently helping over 50 charities who tackle issues such as crime, drug abuse and homelessness.
We match and manage teams of senior business people, ‘Pilotlighters’, with local charities and social enterprises that are tackling social disadvantage in the UK. The teams coach the charities through the process of planning for growth, development and sustainability.
Pilotlight encourages business leaders to volunteer their time in a way that uses their professional skills in just three hours a month. Our Pilotlighters benefit from testing their talents in a new and challenging context, networking with peers in other industries and disciplines and learning new skills and approaches, which they can bring back to their organisations.
Unique Features
Pilotlight manages the interaction between the charities and the professionals throughout the relationship. Other volunteering relationships match rather than manage skills. This brokerage frees both sides to concentrate on sharing their skills effectively. Pilotlight creates teams of four senior executives (all from different organisations and with a mix of skills) and matches the team with the needs of a partner charity or social enterprise.
Pilotlight Project Managers facilitate meetings every 4-6 weeks, steering the team through Pilotlight’s tried and tested process in the development of a strategic plan. Individual and Corporate Pilotlighters contribute their time over an average period of 12-18 months. They also make a financial contribution towards our costs. Pilotlight is a charity, itself, and relies on contributions to provide our service free to charities.
Our Principles
We believe that:
- By bringing together the passion and expertise of the voluntary sector with the best of business thinking we can help to create more effective and sustainable organisations
- The most successful collaborations between the private and voluntary sectors are grounded in mutual respect and recognition of the skills and expertise represented by each sector
- Small charities and social enterprises are best placed to find innovative and effective solutions to the changing needs of the disadvantaged in society, and their knowledge and commitment should be nurtured and supported
- Systematic evaluation is central to achieving excellence and enables small charities to compete in an increasingly challenging environment
- One of the primary objectives of any small community or voluntary organisation should be to make themselves sustainable, so they can continue to help their beneficiaries as long as their services are needed
Our Record
Pilotlight is able to demonstrate a real and measurable benefit to society at grassroots level. The results of the Pilotlight process are evaluated and quantified. Since 2003, Pilotlight has brokered the equivalent of £6.5m in business skills and cultivated the talents of over 320 senior business leaders. The charities we currently support improve the lives of over 3.3m people.
Thanks to their improved skills, confidence and focus, Pilotlight partner charities and social enterprises increase their income by 48%, on average, within two years – more than three times the rate of the voluntary sector as a whole.
- “It was the first time someone not involved in the charity looked at how we worked . . . they challenged us to think outside the box. We’ve now secured funding for the next three years.”
Shaminder Ubhi, Ashiana Network
This increase in funding allows charities to take on more staff and provide crucial support to 71% more people, on average, within two years of working with Pilotlight.
- Maytree provides a short-term sanctuary for people experiencing a suicidal crisis. Independent medical research found “a clear need for more centres based on the Maytree model”. Since working with Pilotlight on strategic planning, Maytree has been able to raise more funds, consolidate its staffing and provide support to 50% more people each month.
In the last seven years we have worked with over 140 charities and expanded from London to Scotland and Wales. Over the next two years we plan to double the number of charities and social enterprises we support and expand to other areas of Britain.
- The Sanjog Centre provides opportunities for learning, work experience and employment to minority ethnic women in Edinburgh. For many clients this is their first experience of work, giving them income and a route to other employment. Pilotlight's contribution has been crucial as the Sanjog Centre looked to grow. Chief Executive, Mary Hastie, says Pilotlight's support helped her to understand where the organisation needed to go and how to overcome barriers. As a result, the Sanjog Centre can help more women into work and education.
Our model is effective and costs the taxpayer nothing. We want to use it with more charities to make sure they become sustainable and thus reach more people who need support.
- The 999 Club, in Lewisham, provides help, support and friendship to vulnerable people such as the homeless, those with mental health issues and ex-offenders. Director, Robert Block says: “We existed off pure energy and charisma, as charities often do for periods. The business planning work and the skills we have developed with Pilotlight have introduced an essential element to the organisation to ensure its sustainability. Our clients now have the real prospect of uninterrupted service for years to come.”
Click here if you would like your charity to experience the benefits of working with Pilotlight.
“Even if someone offered me £80,000 I would still go for my team of Pilotlighters!” Celine Sinclair of The Yard, Edinburgh
The business people who volunteer to become 'Pilotlighters' also benefit
“It is great to be able to make a contribution while developing essential skills.” JB Renard, Refining and Marketing Group Vice President, BP (Corporate Partner)
The results of our Pilotlight Member Survey 2009 reveal:
- 84% of Pilotlighters found their experience with Pilotlight has helped them to become happier and more fulfilled in their day jobs.
- 90% of Pilotlighters say they have refreshed or improved their skills in their work with Pilotlight.
- 34% of Pilotlighters have become trustees or intend to become trustees as a result of working with Pilotlight
- Since becoming members, Pilotlighters have increased the time they spend volunteering with charities outside their Pilotlight commitment by around 50%.
Please click here to find out how you can become a Pilotlighter and make a significant difference in your local community.