The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 13: Autumn 2019 | Page 43
POSITIVE BUSINESS
Partnerships are the way forward for survival
in the third sector, says Les Redwood
Having worked in the third sector for over a decade, I now find myself as CEO for
the wonderful charity Citizens Advice B&NES (Bath and North East Somerset).
With a great team of trustees, 14 staff and
over 100 volunteers it is an honour to work
with this incredible team and to provide
advisory services to a whole myriad of
people in need across Bath and North East
Somerset.
As a result, The Business Exchange
has asked me to write this column to give
a quarterly update of both our activities
across the Unitary Authority and also my
experiences of working in the third sector in
the Bath region.
Firstly – a little about Citizens Advice
B&NES. We provide generalist advice to over
8000 people a year across four locations in
Bath, Midsomer Norton and Keynsham. We
serve a wide variety of people with all kinds
of needs, across all age and socio-economic
groups. Following the old Hard Rock Café
principle of “love all, serve all,” we provide
generalist advice to whoever and whatever
comes in - and the demand is rising
considerably!
The biggest issues we are currently
dealing with are debt, housing and benefits
issues. We are also helping with a multitude
of other matters around consumer,
employment and family issues. The loss of
legal aid support for the majority of people
has had a significant impact, removing a
much-needed crutch for many who need
it most at a very difficult time. Add in
substantial cuts in government and local
authority funding and support for many
people – including the most vulnerable - and
the advice safety net is just not there for
people anymore, especially around mental
health issues and terminal illness support.
These are just some of the reasons that
we have our marvellous Bath Mind and
Macmillan Cancer care partnerships. We
have embedded team members from both
of our charity partners to give expert support
and advice right when this is needed – in
the right place at the right time. Our high-
quality (we are the only advice service that is
FCA approved) advice services are delivered
exactly at the point of most need by working
closely with these partners. This reduces
duplication, increases efficiency and gives
an excellent service.
I would suggest that the ‘bigger
picture’ here is clear – partnerships have
to be the way ahead for future growth
and sustainability of many third sector
organisations. Whether they are charities,
public or private partnerships, universities
or other social enterprises, it is clear that
- with reducing funding and centralised
support - working together is key to mutual
survival in the third sector. I will expand on
this further in future articles.
In the meantime – should you be able to
support us – please email me at:
[email protected]
Les Redwood, CEO, Citizens Advice B&NES
For more info:
www.citizensadvicebanes.org.uk
TAKE PART IN THE REC
SLEEPOUT 2019 The Make it Grow
Corporate Challenge
Bath Rugby Foundation is calling on Bath’s
businesses to forgo the comfort of their beds
for one night to raise awareness of youth
homelessness in the city.
The Rec Sleepout will take place on
Wednesday 6th November, at the home of
Bath Rugby.
The first Rec Sleepout took place in
November 2018, when 125 people, including
The Business Exchange team, braved the
cold to spend an uncomfortable night on the
concrete floor of the Rec’s West Stand.
Bath Rugby Foundation works with
more than 3,000 children and young people
annually and staff are increasingly aware
that many of the participants on the charity’s
programmes do not have the security of a
permanent home. Many young people find
themselves sofa-surfing or moving between
various types of temporary accommodation.
Sadly, there are often times that young
people arrive at the charity hungry.
Bath Rugby Foundation CEO, Lynne
Fernquest, said, “Every hour of every day in
the UK a teenager becomes homeless and
we believe that’s unacceptable in 2019.
“As Government funding for youth
support services continues to be cut, less
and less support is now available for the
rising number of youngsters who need it.
Vulnerable children aren’t falling through To celebrate 20 years of
fundraising for the RUH, the
Forever Friends Appeal has
launched a new campaign to
engage local firms.
the net – there is no net. This has to change.
More people need to be aware of this very
real and current issue and more needs
to be done to tackle it. The threat of youth
homelessness is an issue we will continue to
highlight at Bath Rugby Foundation.”
Bath Rugby Foundation is asking
businesses to enter teams of four and ask
that teams raise a minimum of £700, either
by fundraising within your business or by
direct donation, to take part.
Individuals will be asked to raise or pledge
a minimum of £150. Students are asked to
raise £50.
By taking part you will be raising
awareness, boosting funds and helping make
a real difference to the lives of vulnerable
young people living in and around Bath.
Sign up to take part in the Rec Sleep Out
here: www.bathrugbyfoundation.com/
Event/the-rec-sleep-out-2019
Businesses from Bath and its surrounds are
being urged to take part in a new Make it
Grow Corporate Challenge.
Patsy Gould, Corporate Officer for The
Forever Friends Appeal said, “On 1st October
we will give you £20 and your task over
the next four months (October- January)
is to grow your fund more than any other
company taking part. This is your exclusive
chance to be named the Make it Grow
Corporate Challenge Champion 2019.
Equipped with some brilliant fundraising
tools, tips and ideas, it’s up to you and your
colleagues to determine how you raise the
most money. For the fashionista’s maybe
you could have a dress down/up day? For
the foodies, maybe a bake sale or Come
Dine with Me style competition? Or if you’re
feeling like a winner, a raffle or charity
auction?
“Our hospital is constantly evolving and
funds are continuously needed to help
provide our patients with the very best
care possible. It is through support from
@ForeverFriendsA
companies like yours that we will be able
to help deliver modern technology, improve
facilities and ensure patients are treated in a
comfortable and reassuring environment. We
raise funds for all wards and departments
across the hospital, so you and your
colleagues can therefore choose an area of
the RUH you feel passionate about.”
The Business Exchange is one of the first
companies to sign up to the Make it Grow
Challenge. We are encouraging all of our
clients, readers and contacts to join in the
fun and compete against us. Why not create
a challenge that showcases your business
and business acumen too? We will promote
your fundraising efforts via our website and
social feeds, so get in touch and tell us what
you’re doing.
To register for the challenge go to:
www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk/grow-
corporate-challenge-registration
Follow the #makeitgrow hashtag on social
media and join in the conversation.
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2019
43