Benham Publishing Businesss Magazines February 2014 | Page 11

WhatMembershipMeansTo.. Forget Me Not encourages businesses to socialise Jason Costello, corporate partnership manager for Forget Me Not Children’s hospice invited the Chamber marketing team to the hospice to understand the benefits of social media to the charity. Forget Me Not Children’s hospice has been around for 12 years and cares for children with life-limiting conditions and their families throughout Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. Since December 2012 it has also provided care and offered respite to children and families through its ‘Hospice at Home’ service. The charity currently supports more than 80 children and their families within its brand new hospice building, situated at Russell House, Huddersfield, officially opened by HRH Princess Beatrice of York in June 2013. Jason described the hospice’s goals: “We need to continue to grow and raise awareness, utilising the Chamber’s benefits, so that all families know that we are here.” The hospice has been a Chamber member for three years and Jason described the benefits. “We are part of the community that the Chamber serves,” he said, “We mirror the same areas of contact throughout Mid Yorkshire, which supports us in getting known within the business community.” Jason explained how he gains a lot from our networking and training events: “The areas I’ve been mostly successful in are the Chamber events; 60 Useful Minutes, MY Network and Last Friday Club have all been a great help to the charity.” Social media makes up a significant part of the hospice’s media mix. “Social media allows us to interact with our supporters with whom we engage daily,” Jason said, adding, “The Chamber assists us by getting the word out further about the charity, through its ‘liking’ ‘re-tweeting’ and ‘commenting’ of our posts.” For more information on Forget Me Not visit www.forgetmenotchild.co.uk and follow @ForgetMNotChild on Twitter. Become a member and benefit from raising awareness of your organisation as Jason and the hospice has, by contacting [email protected]. Social media allows us to interact with our supporters with whom we engage daily. The Chamber assists us by getting the word out further about the charity, through its ‘liking’ ‘re-tweeting’ and ‘commenting’ of our posts. Winter 2013 CLOSEUP 11