Partnership with Eden Brown

Thursday 11 June 2009

NCB's fundraising team is always looking for innovative ways to raise money. Its year-long partnership with recruitment agency Eden Brown has seen employees at both organisations go to great lengths to improve the lives of children.

The NCB fundraising team works across the organisation to assist colleagues in making funding applications to the government and trusts, develop links with sponsors, organise fundraising events, and communicate with individuals to keep them updated on fundraising news and events.

The range of work undertaken keeps the fundraising team busy all year round and contributes significantly to NCB's work to improve the lives of children and young people.

In January 2009, Eden Brown, a recruitment specialist with offices based across the UK, chose NCB to be their charity of the year. The partnership was launched with a challenge to Eden Brown's directors to see which of them could raise the most money for NCB over a two-week period. The director who raised the least amount of money would have to suffer the forfeit of having his legs waxed. The event was a big success, raising more than £2,000 to support the work of NCB, and was a fantastic start to the partnership.

Boost for fundraising
Since the launch, staff at Eden Brown have embraced NCB as their charity of the year and have been busy fundraising. NCB has arranged for staff to take part in parachute jumps, quiz nights and dress-down days, which have all been very popular. Fundraising activities were also given a boost by a Sunday Times survey - every time an Eden Brown staff member completed it, a £5 donation was given directly to NCB.

NCB is now almost halfway through its charity of the year partnership and more exciting events are planned for the next six months. Eden Brown staff members are taking part in the London 10K run on behalf of NCB on 12 July, and one employee is even taking part in an Iron Man competition, which will see him run three marathons, row the length of the English Channel and back, and climb the equivalent of Mount Everest three times over.

Other planned events include baking competitions, sporting events and overseas challenges for those looking to take part in something bigger.

NCB plans to further engage Eden Brown staff with some volunteering opportunities to give them face-to-face experience of helping children and young people. Through this direct work, staff will be able to offer children and young people their extensive experience in the recruitment sector, as well as careers advice and CV-writing skills.

Forthcoming activities

• Six Eden Brown staff are taking part in the London 10K run
• Employee Russell Bennett is taking part in an Iron Man contest
• NCB staff will meet entrepreneur and Dragon's Den star James Caan to receive a cheque for the money raised so far by Eden Brown employees
• 20 Eden Brown staff members will volunteer to help redecorate a London primary school