Team Building Challenge where Maximus Make the Difference
Team Building Challenge. The Sussex Deaf Association were thrilled when the Maximus SSK Leadership team from Maximus Employment and Training UK spent a day transforming their disused back garden into a fantastic new resource.
Pro-bono Support Helps at Grassroots Level
"Without the professional input we received through ProHelp, I fear we may have become insolvent within a year," says Chris Brown from Grassroots Training, a Brighton-based community interest company providing training and consultancy to support a community model of suicide prevention.
Emmaus & ProHelp
A unique collaboration between Brighton-based professionals and a local homeless charity offers an insight into how a successful pro-bono relationship can work. The ambitious plan, to create a new attraction at Emmaus' Portslade base is an excellent example of how third sector organisations and professionals can work together for mutual benefit and is just one of the projects that has been facilitated thanks to The Business Community Partnership's (BCP) ProHelp network in Brighton & Hove.
For full info click here.
Disney Magic happens at St. John the Baptist School
A recent BCP Team Building Challenge saw an exciting partnership formed between Disney's Black Rock Studio and St. John the Baptist School in Whitehawk.
Eventia & the concrete jungle that was!
A team of 200 delegates from major events trade company Eventia descended upon St Bartholomew's Primary School to help transform an old car park into a playground for the children.
Team Building Challenge – Reading Garden for The Cedar Centre
A team of volunteers from Family Investments make a huge difference to Cedar Centre School in Hollingdean by converting a corner of the grounds into a beautiful reading garden.
From Rock Bottom to Confident Smiles
Kate had been unemployed for 15 years when she came on the Business Action on Homelessness programme. 2 years down the line and she is back in work and facing the future with confidence.
Nido Go Wild in the Jungle at Honeycroft
Nido marketing recently spent the day at Honeycroft under 5's Centre painting a jungle themed mural onto three walls. Honeycroft gave the team of volunteers the opportunity to help improve the lives of some children by literally making their day brighter by decorating an area of the centre.
Team Building Challenge - BUPA Make a Difference to Hillside Special School
A team of volunteers from BUPA International worked all day to transform the outside space at Hillside School. From building a raised flower bed, and constructing a shed, to sanding down picnic tables and wood-staining decking, it's amazing the difference a little hard work can make!
Team Building Challenge at Whitehawk Primary School
As part of a Team Building Challenge, a team from City College Brighton & Hove recently spent the day helping Whitehawk Primary School turn a corridor into a sensory area where children could develop their learning skills in calm yet stimulating surroundings.
Call of Nature Networking Event 2006
Over 100 people from some of Brighton's leading businesses and voluntary organisations attended the Business Community Partnership winter networking event where they drew inspiration from nature on building cross-sectoral partnerships.
Networking Challenge at Nourish Community Farm
BCP's Networking Community Challenges are an effective way to help you build new business relationships whilst also supporting your local community. These challenges offer the chance to meet and establish contacts with other businesses in a relaxed atmosphere, whilst also providing real benefits for the local community.
Team Building Challenge at The Springboard Project
Eleven employees of Horsham-based workplace health, safety and environmental consultancy, ems, spent a day painting and renovating the play area of a local charity, The Springboard Project.
Mott MacDonald Promotes CSR with Positive Action
Mott MacDonald is an international management engineering and development consultancy with a commitment to promoting corporate responsibility throughout the business. The group's Brighton-based energy division is a keen supporter of Business Action on Homeless, providing volunteers and in-kind support.
Poets Corner Talk Shop
The Poets Corner Residents' Society saw the potential of transforming a derelict building into a community centre. To apply for funding they needed to get professional advice which they couldn't afford. Through ProHelp BCP put them together with DRP Architects and MacConvilles Surveyors, who assessed the building's suitability and managed the conversion project.
New Website Helps Women's Refuge Project
The Women's Refuge Project wanted to increase access to their services, provide information on domestic violence and abuse and information to supporters by having a website.
Academy Internet and the CommunityMark
In 2006, BCP helped Academy Internet, an e-learning and internet marketing consultancy firm with 11 employees became the first IT company in Brighton to achieve the CommunityMark.
Bupa Brighten Honeycroft Nursery
A team from Bupa International helped liven up Honeycroft Under 5s Centre.
"The physical work was fun, but also meaningful. We got a lovely card from the children!" Cecily Abbot, Bupa International.
"I enjoyed the team building and seeing the end result. It looks beautiful and very bright!" Emma Criddle, Bupa International.
Why do Businesses Get Involved?
BCP's ProHelp project matches business people with professional and business skills to community projects and organisations seeking specific kinds of support.
Confidence Boost for Homeless Jobseekers from Asda
Asda's Hollingbury store is a champion of Business Action on Homelessness in Brighton. The store runs four work placement programmes a year, providing valuable retail work experience for homeless people on the path to independent living. Dealing with the public in a customer service role helps BAOH clients develop communication skills and boosts their confidence.
French Toast and Free Love for Businesses Supporting the Community
BCP organised an event in June 2006 that recognised a record breaking year for the involvement of local professional firms in the community. Well over £40,000 of in-kind support was provided to 23 charities and social enterprises in Brighton and Hove by a group of 28 city firms in 2005/6.
Improved Communication at The Argus
Newsquest (Sussex) Ltd, who publish The Argus newspaper in Brighton and Hove, joined BCP's Employee Volunteering scheme in 2005. In 2006 they became Gold members, with 8 teams of employees participating in community challenges.
Sparkhouse Counsel Relate
As a high profile organisation and leading source of counselling for couples and families in the city of Brighton & Hove, Relate recognised the need to review its strategy both in terms of service delivery and planning and as an employer. BCP matched them with Sparkhouse Consultants so that they could do just that.
Impact Initiatives Project
An exciting opportunity arose for Impact Initiatives (Impact), a community organisation helping people and communities improve their lives through health, independence and learning, when they were offered the opportunity to purchase new premises in the New England Quarter mixed-use development in Brighton.
NEET Work Placements in New Media
Academy Internet got involved with a project to train and place NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) young people into the New Media and Digital Media employment sector in Brighton with Action for Change.
What Does Support Mean for the Community?
"Writing a business plan is very daunting for someone who hasn't done it before. Getting support through BCP really helped me see a way forward." Ian Davey, Bike for Life. Supported by Ted Blanden from Barclays Bank.
Medmerry Green Community Cafe Project
The residents' and tenants' Association of Higher Bevendean and Moulsecoomb South wanted to turn a disused shop into a Community Café. With the help of BCP, and various professionals, they were able to do just that.
Atmosphere Crackles as Oranges Meet Apples
Over 50 people from 35 different organisations attended BCP's "matching apples to oranges" networking event. The event brought together representatives from local businesses, community organisations and social enterprises to learn about eachother's work and share resources.
All Sorted! Consulting Helps the Business Community Partnership
The Business Community Partnership needed help getting organised. In the space of a few months, the organisation developed a new membership structure, database and website, and took on a new administrator. Staff found keeping on top of the new systems increasingly complicated and chaotic. Susanne Barthelmes, a professional organiser from All Sorted! Consulting offered to help out.
Brighton Community Compost Centre Get Their Heads Around Finance
Brighton Community Compost Centre (BCCC) is a social enterprise that offers households and businesses a new and sustainable, environmentally low-impact garden/green waste recycling facility.
Mint Design Help Relate Brighton & Hove
Mint Design were approached by BCP in order to help Brighton Relate with a marketing campaign to launch a new range of services covering not just the usual relationship counselling, but a raft of services aimed at new parents,families, sex therapy and life skills.
Taking a Chance and Flying
Andy Barber became street homeless for 6 months living in St Patrick's night shelter during this time. When he applied to come on the Business Action on Homelessness (BAOH) programme he had not worked for a year. His morale was very low through the experience of becoming and being homeless and unemployed. Through BAOH Andy was offered a placement at Marks & Spencer Brighton store.
Disabled Access for the Phoenix Community Centre
Phoenix Community Centre needed a new access ramp but couldn't afford to pay for the architect's drawings that would make sure the ramp was in keeping with their listed building.
BCP's Collaborative Research Shows Impact of Social Enterprise
BCP co-ordinated a city-wide research project to show the impact of social enterprise on the local economy. The research reveals that over 110 social enterprises operating in Brighton and Hove are contributing £21 million to the economy and employ 1,262 people.
Our Induction Events Set You Up For Success
BCP runs monthly induction meetings for new and renewing members to meet, identify goals and build relationships based on exchanging skills and resources.
Mentoring for New Staff
Daniella Scott joined the Business Community Partnership on a New Deal work experience placement with Sussex Youth (now called Creating Futures). To help her get to grips with her role as administrative assistant, Susanne Barthelmes, a professional organiser from All Sorted! Consulting volunteered to act as a mentor. Susanne and Daniella met up for a few hours each month to discuss the challenges in Daniella's new job.
Better Project Update
November 09
The first in a regular series of project updates charting the progress of 6 social enterprises as they embed Social Impact Assessment tools in their organisations.
For full details, click here.
