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.
There is a 9% increase in membership at Pilotlight London compared to last year. Membership of Pilotlight Scotland, where we were just beginning last year, is over double that of a year ago.
A steady stream of email enquiries is coming through from people interested in individual membership. Companies like Scottish Power are increasing the number of members they offer us.
If stress is the result of feeling out of control then Pilotlight must be the antidote – a way of taking back control and acting to change the world by helping charities.
In 2008, Safeguarding Children Services, an award-winning social enterprise that works with abused and at-risk children and young people on Merseyside, started working with Pilotlight. We put together a team to help SCS focus on financial planning, branding, marketing and business strategy. The Pilotlight team, which included a BP executive, a marketing specialist, a risk officer at Reed Elsevier, and an entrepreneur, were impressed with the drive and determination of the people from SCS. The relationship has been a productive one and in December 2008 SCS were delighted to find they had received funding of nearly £1.2m from Futurebuilders, which will enable them to build an eight-bed residential unit for young people who have suffered abuse and harm. The unit will be up and running from July 2009.
The Jeely Piece Club is another charity changing the world. Read about it in this month’s newsletter case study below.
As John Schaar, the American political theorist once wrote, “The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths to it are made not found – and the process of making them changes both the maker and the destinations.”
Fiona Halton
Chief Executive