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.
Speaking after five charities and Pilotlighters talking about their evolution through Pilotlight and their impact, Fiona spoke of Pilotlight's power to enable what she calls ‘co-evolution' of charities and Pilotlighters that work with them.She then moved on to speak about Pilotlight's own evolution:
"So, we know that bringing together senior business people and charities works. We've surveyed 32 charities that we've been working with and 94% of those charities show significant and lasting change in their analysis and planning, in financial management, and in their leadership...
At present we work with 47 charities and across the UK, and we have 200 Pilotlighters. Within that, 27 of those members come from Scotland, and 5 charities come from Scotland, and that's all been since September. Scotland has taken fire with PL and it's wonderful to behold...
But there are over 42,000 charities in the UK that fall within Pilotlight's criteria - we're only reaching just over 1 in 1,000 of those charities. So our ambition is to have 4 Pilotlights up and running in the next 4 years, and I know that's the right thing to do, because it will be the communities that are winners."
Fiona outlined four ways that people can support Pilotlight now:
· Becoming a Pilotlighter, if not one already
· If already a Pilotlighter, recruiting friends or colleagues who would make good Pilotlighters
· Giving us contacts in Scotland for Angela McCusker, Chief Executive of Pilotlight Scotland, and specifically speaking opportunities
· Even if you haven't got time to Pilotlight, help to raise the £1m we need to get those four Pilotlights up and running. The £1m will enable Pilotlight to leverage in over £8m of skills per year, and be working with 150 charities a year, year on year
Many thanks to all who came to the event and support Pilotlight and our work changing communities through small charities. The event was a resounding success, attended by over 120 people and, as usual, people refused to leave on time.
Specific thanks to our speakers, sponsors, hosts and all who have supported Pilotlight to get us to this stage.
Please contact Fiona Halton on 020 7396 7414 if you would like to help Pilotlight move into its next stage of impact.