News - 2008

• We Are Moving... 23rd June 2008
• Charity Commission endorses Community Foundation Network Quality Accreditation
• Birmingham Mail Charity Trust - Lunch set to make history (cancelled)
• Nechells Baths sign Chief Executive as strategy and expansion revealed
• Birmingham Foundation: Budget Response
• Birmingham 2026: Our Vision of the future
• Inaugural community awards are launchpad for new regional arm
• Enterprising Communities - Integrated Gateway March 2008 Opportunities
• Quality Accreditation Success!
• "Best Chances" George Best - A Celebration



Events - 2008

• 3rd Dec 08 -'Save the Date' Christmas Carol Concert
• 17th June 2008 - Jobson James Golf Day
• 16th May 2008 - Aberdovey by bike... all for a worthy cause!
• 20th April 2008 - Mahler's 2nd Symphony - The Resurrection Symphony
• 14th - 16th March 2008 - Sport Relief Weekend
• 5th March 2008 - Aspects of Love - Birmingham Hippodrome
• 23rd February 2008 - Launch of the Edgbaston Foundation at the Great Hall

• We Are Movng... 23rd June 2008

Friday 20th June will be our last day in the office at St Georges Court as we will be relocating our office to our flagship project, Nechells Baths which is in one of the most deprived wards of Birmingham.

Click here for new address and multimap link

• Charity Commission endorses CFN Quality Accreditation

Quality Accreditation is a programme run by the *Community Foundation Network (CFN) to endorse and encourage best practice in the network. It is based on a set of standards developed by members for members, and formally endorsed by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Achieving Quality Accreditation demonstrates that community foundations are serious about quality and accountability. It specifies what we do and how e do it in a way that other quality systems cannot ensure

The Birmingham Foundation are members of the Community Foundation Network.

• Birmingham Mail Charity Trust - Lunch set to make history (cancelled)

The Birmingham Mail Charity Trust is celebrating a double whammy after signing up city historian Dr Carl Chinn as patron and speaker at its first ever fundraising luncheon.

The much-loved Mail columnist and University of Birmingham professor will give a fascinating insight into the newspaper and its place in the heart of the city life when he speaks at the Council House bash next month.

Dr Chinn said "I am honoured to become patron of the Birmingham Mail Charity Trust because this body and its forerunner, the Christmas Tree Fund, means much to me and my family."

"Although it has a new name, the objectives of the charity remain the same as they have been since it was founded in 1889 - to support local good causes."

For details about tickets and sponsorship of the inaugural charity lunch, contact charity trust fundraising manager Gordon Creese on 0121 234 5639 / 07766 757264 or via email: gordon.creese@birminghammail.net

The Birmingham Mail Charity Trust is administered by the Birmingham Foundation.

• Nechells Baths sign Chief Executive as strategy and expansion revealed

The Birmingham Foundation has appointed John James as chief executive of Nechells Baths community centre with immediate effect.

Mr James has spent the greater part of his business life advising organisations both in the public and private sectors, specialising in strategic business growth, acquisitions and joint ventures. Set to expand the role and services offered by the renovated landmark facility, he will continue the charity's work in regenerating this part of the city... read more

• Birmingham Foundation: Budget Response

Birmingham Foundation has welcomed the announcement in Alistair Darling's first budget of tax relief for local charities, which could be worth as much as £300 million nationwide. Foundation Chief Executive, Derek Inman, said:

"This budget is good news for local charities. The transitional relief announced today will give many local donors a greater incentive to give over the next three years, helping them to continue to support projects through the Birmingham Foundation. These include hundreds of local projects to tackle crime, clean up the local environment and help disadvantaged people in Birmingham"

• Birmingham 2026: Our vision of the future

How many times have you said that you don't get asked or you want to be more involved? Well, this is your chance to help shape the future.

Don't delay - you can still have your say. Deadline extended to: 31st March

So far, 1,025 people have told us what they think the priorities are for Birmingham over the next 20 years.

Feeling safe, improved recycling opportunities and transport are at the top of the individuals' lists. And for their family and friends, feeling safe, increased skills, education and training and transport are at the top of the wish list.

Whist for Birmingham, the main hopes are for economic success, environmental improvements and peaceful communities.

1,000 Brummies pick top priorities for the next 20 years

Please complete the online survey or ask your colleagues and members of your organisation to complete the online survey at www.bebirmingham.org.uk/2026

Alternatively, call 0121 675 6968 or email: birmingham2026@birmingham.gov.uk to request more copies of the survey.

On behalf of the Birmingham 2026 Consultation Team
Be Birmingham

• Inaugural community awards are launchpad for new regional arm

		A new era of community and charity support arrived in the city last week as The Edgbaston Foundation was officially launched at a glittering gala awards dinner. More than 300 of the city's professional and business leaders supported the inspiring event which raised more than £10,000. Held in the Great Hall at the University of Birmingham it was compered by ITV central's Llewella Bailey.

Working under the remit of the Birmingham, the new charity arm will enhance the current charity and community support work undertaken in the Edgbaston district which includes nearby suburbs such as Harborne, Quinton and Bartley Green... click here for the full release

• Enterprising Communities - Integrated Gateway March 2008 Opportunities

Integrated Gateway is an Opportunities Directory, which focuses on regenerating the area through assisting local people into local jobs.

The aim is to source local vacancies and disseminate them through a variety of means including local community organisations, trader associations, street advisors and other employment agencies.

Click here to download the Integrated Gateway - March 2008 Opportunities Directory

• Quality Accreditation Success!



We are pleased to announce that Birmingham Community Foundation have successfully gained Quality Accreditation by Community Foundation Network to standards endorsed by the Charity Commission.

As stated on the Community Foundation Network's website 'Qualtiy Accreditation is an investment to ensure community foundations are healthy, strong and sustainable'.

It will make it easier to work with partners and stakeholders, protect the community foundation 'brand', provide an organisational development road-map and reinforce current good practice. Geraldine Peacock, outgoing Chair of the Charity Commission at the end of June 2006 stated "This means that stakeholders can be confident that member charities who achieve the standards will be effective in the delivery of their services to users".

We were assessed on 20 standards spanning 7 key performance areas for a community foundation and also a corporate assessment. The 7 key areas spanning the standards include:
Definition; Governance; Finance; Donor services and development; Grant-making; Community engagement and COmmunications.

Our corporate assessment provides a picture of what has been achieved an our capacity for future growth and development.

Over the last 10 years various development have taken place relative to the assessment, monitoring and improvement of the quality of the different standards, we are therefore proud of our achievement adn will continue to review and improve our standrads in keeping with our mision to improve the quality of life for the disadvantaged commuhnities in Greater Birmingham.

• "Best Chances" George Best - A Celebration

		Untold true stories of our most legendary footballer written by Bernie Smith and Maureen Hunt is dedicated to all those who need a chance in life, and those who are willing to take it. The book has given the opportunity for many people to celebrate George Best. It has also given Bernie and Maureen the opportunity to create 'Best Chances' charity; to which they will donate a tenth of any profits made from the sale of the book. Maureen and Bernie hope that by contributing in this way others may wish to give those less fortunate in their own community. 'Best Chances will be a part of the Edgbaston Foundation in Birmingham and will be administered through the Birmingham Community Foundation. Please download the Best Chances - Edgbaston Foundation flyer for further information.

Bernie and Maureen thank David Bucknall (Chairman of the Birmingham Community Foundation) and Tim Watts (President of the Birmingham Commuity Foundation) for inspiring, leading and developing the Birmingham Foundation to be what it is today.

'Best Chances' is an opportunity to help ensure that the absence of money does not stand in the way of a person's ability to achieve their maximum potential, be it in educational, social or cultural pursuits which contribute to the realisation of their goals - and the enhancement of their contribution to the community where they live.

If you would like to make a donation to the Best Chances Fund then please make cheques payable to: Birmingham Community Foundation ('Best Chances')
and it send to:
Birmingham Community Foundation, Nechells Baths, Nechells Park Road, Nechells, Birmingham B7 5PD... thank you for your support.

To help raise funds you can purchase your copy of 'George Best A Celebration - Untold Stories of our most legendary footballer' at selected branches of WHSmith and Waterstones.

Thank you for your support!

For further information please visit: www.georgebestacelebration.com

Events - 2008

• 3rd Dec 08 -'Save the Date' Christmas Carol Concert
• 17th June 2008 - Jobson James Golf Day
• 16th May 2008 - Aberdovey by bike... all for a worthy cause!
• 20th April 2008 - Mahler's 2nd Symphony - The Resurrection Symphony
• 14th - 16th March 2008 - Sport Relief Weekend
• 5th March 2008 - Aspects of Love - Birmingham Hippodrome
• 23rd February 2008 - Launch of the Edgbaston Foundation at the Great Hall



• 'Save the Date' Christmas Carol Concert - 3rd Dec 2008

Following on from the success of last years Christmas Carol Concert we are delighted to announce that Hyder Consulting have once again offered to be our principal sponsor! The event will take place on Wednesday 3rd December at the Town Hall, Birmingham - so please make a note of the date in your diaries. Compered by broadcaster and journalist Adrian Goldberg and performed by the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of conductor, Michael Lloyd, the orchestra will perform such pieces as The Snowman Suite, extracts from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, Deck the Halls, Once in Royal David's City and O Little Town of Bethlehem together with other rousing winter tunes.

The Choir of St Peter's Collegiate Church in Wolverhampton will again be part of the evening's entertainment.

Funds raised from this year's concert will go towards supporting local disadvantaged communities, targeting grass-roots projects that are addressing Health & Social Issues i.e. anti-social behaviour and Arts & Culture i.e. promoting Music in the Community.

Tickets are priced at £25 (circle) and £20 (stalls) and be purchased by completing and returning the Ticket Booking form (word doc) or Ticket Booking Form (pdf version)

Sponsorship Opportunities are also available. Please download the Sponsorship Form (word doc) or Sponsorship Form (pdf version) for further information

The following companies are already committed to sponsorship:
Hyder Consulting - Town Hall venue costs and Staffing
Programme - Lithograve Colour Printers
Photographer - Marc Kirsten Photography
Mince Pies - Town Hall, Birmingham

for further information:
Please download our Christmas Concert flyer
If you have any queries please email: christmasconcert@bhamfoundation.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you there!





• Jobson James Golf Day - 17th June 2008

The Midlands annual golf day of one of the UK's leading wealth management firms has raised almost £10,000 for the Birmingham Community Foundation.

Financial specialists Jobson James attracted 18 teams to play in the annual event which was held at Olton Golf Club in Solihull. Quirky competitions on the course together with a raffle and an enthusiastic auction held towards the end of the evening added to the fun.

Please click here for more...

• Aberdovey by bike... all for a worthy cause! - 16th May 2008

Team Photo Simon Hall and Mike Murray at Lake Vyrnvy

We are delighted to inform you that Charlotte Crossley, Director of Core Marketing has successfully completed the 150 mile bike ride to Aberdovey along with 22 team mates! The event, organised by Charlotte saw 23 employees from Birmingham’s property community conquer a tremendously hilly 125 mile cycle event which took place on Friday 16th May. Charlotte Crossley, director of Core said: “For all 23 property professionals to complete the grueling 125mile cycle course to Aberdovey was a tremendous achievement. Although, the training that went into being prepared for this event was rightly quite significant. Having battled through horrendous weather and climbing up to the highest road in weather, we were all in agreement that it was the charity cause that kept us pedaling all day, along with a bit of competitive spirit! They have raised £12,000 which is fantastic - if you would still like to make a contribution then there is still time , simply visit the Just Giving Website, which is really straight forward. Many thanks for your support and donations! Many congratulations to the team, thank you! Press Release: May 08 Event Flyer: April 08 Press Release: March 08

Background info: We are delighted to inform you that Core Marketing is co-ordinating a charity bike ride in aid of the Birmingham Foundation. 22 employees from Birmingham’s property community are all in training for a tremendously hilly 125 mile cycle event which takes place on Friday 16th May. Property Week is their media partner, which makes the fact that they will all be cycling in a specially designed pink and purple kit very interesting! The photographs will be online and on the back page of the magazine the following week, and will be in the local press too.

• Mahler's 2nd Symphony - The Resurrection Symphony - 20th April 2008

Alastair Moseley, WSP Group and Principal Clarinetist for the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) has worked with the Foundation now for the last four years, through his work with his previous employer, Hyder Consulting.

Since 2004, the BPO has given a Promenade Concert to raise money for the Birmingham Foundation with last years concert being a Christmas Carol Concert.

As part of the BPO's concert programme for 2008 they are performing Mahler's Second Symphony - The Resurrection - in Birmingham's Town Hall on Sunday 20th April.

The Resurrection Symphony is an enormous work featuring over 100 musicians plus a choir of 150 - The City of Birmingham Choir!

Alastair said "Because this is such a spectacular event, albeit serious in nature, we have decided to offer the event as a fund raiser for the Birmingham Foundation. We are pledging to donate all net proceeds, after costs have been met."

Sunday 20 April, 7:30pm Town Hall
Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra
Michael Lloyd - Conductor
Amanda Winfield - Soprano
Emma Selway - Mezzo-soprano
City of Birmingham Choir

Tickets: £6.50; £10; £15 and £20.
Concessions available at all levels for 60+, students, children and unemployed

Tickets can be purchased from the Town Hall Symphony Hall Box Office: tel: 0121 780 3333 or online www.thsh.co.uk/view/resurrection-symphony

For further information please download the BPO event flyer

Press Release: April 08

• Sport Relief Weekend - 14th - 16th March 2008

The Birmingham Foundation is a local agent for the distribution of Sport Relief money in the Birmingham area (a part of the Comic Relief initiative).

As local agents, we have been asked by Comic Relief to help promote the Sport Relief weekend in our local areas particularly amongst former grant recipients.

Comic Relief appreciate that some of our projects work with people and communities who don't have much money to spare or who may not find it easy to access one of the Mile runs, but there are all sorts of ways people can get involved and anything to raise awareness of Sport Relief would be great.

Please download the Sport Relief Flyer for further information or visit the Sport Relief website www.sportrelief.com

Thank you for your help and support!

• Aspects of Love - Birmingham Hippodrome 5th March 2008

Thank you to everyone who attended our CharityTheatre Evening - you have helped to raise over £1400!

John James; Yvonne Palmer; Judith James; Daisy and Derek Inman	Rider Levett Bucknall

HBJ Gateley Wareing	HW Chartered Accountants

Pertemps Investments Ltd	Pertemps People Development Group

Background Information:

We are delighted to inform you that the Birmingham Hippodrome have once again offered us the opportunity to host a private dinner in one of their function rooms and then go on to see ' Aspects of Love', starring David Essex on Wednesday 5th March 2008. For those of you who attended our Acorn Antiques - the Musical! in March last year you will know that this is a great night out for friends and colleagues. The Birmingham Hippodrome have reserved a number of tickets for us in the circle, to enable us to invite you to see this brand new production, which is set to be the theatrical event of the year!

Prior to the performance we have arranged for an early evening (5:45pm for 6pm) drinks reception and private dinner to be held in the IMI Studio situated within the Birmingham Hippodrome and within close proximity to your circle seating.

So why not head off those winter blues by purchasing a table of 8 for £600 or individual tickets which may be purchased at £75 per person.

To reserve your table / tickets simply complete and return the Aspects Booking Form at your earliest convenience.

We look forward to receiving your booking!

If you require further details or have any queries then please not hesitate to contact suzanne@bhamfoundation.co.uk or pat@bhamfoundation.co.uk or via tel: 0121 214 2080, thank you.





• Launch of the Edgbaston Foundation - Great Hall 23rd February 2008

More than 300 of the city’s professional and business leaders gathered at the Great Hall at the University of Birmingham to celebrate the launch of the Edgbaston Foundation charity. Working under the remit of the Birmingham Foundation, the new charity arm will enhanced the current charity and community support work undertaken in the Edgbaston district. Films shown at the event can be viewed below: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT8aQgSpPmc www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gi61WkHEBO

The event, compered by ITV Central’s Llewela Bailey, also played centre stage to the launch of the first Edgbaston Foundation awards presented to spotlight those working already to make a difference in the area.

Recently created by the determination of key individuals within the Edgbaston Constituency, the Edgbaston Foundations aim is to help improve the long-term economic and social success of the area.

"The Edgbaston constituency is sometimes viewed as only those leafy and green areas within it, which masks the deprivation in all of its wards - Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne and Quinton. This venture aims to ensure that *funds are raised for the valued work undertaken throughout by local groups undertaking charitable work" said Roundy Rudell, Chairman of the Edgbaston Foundation.

The Gala Dinner Dance and Awards evening took place at the University of Birmingham in the Great Hall on Saturday 23rd February and was the first of many fundraising initiatives to be held by the Edgbaston Foundation.
(Tables of 10 were purchased for £850 and individual tickets were purchased at £87.50 each).

Unfortunately Roundy Rudell was unable to make the evening as he was unwell and so Jayne Herritty, Calthorpe Estates very kindly stepped in to take over the role for the evening!

The event raised almost £10k - which is fantastic. Thank you to everyone involved!

The Edgbaston Foundation is delighted to announce that the funds raised at this Inaugural event will be going to the Best Chances Fund


The Awards Ceremony:

	Calthorpe Estates Corporate Social Responsibility Award - nominees were: Lovell Partnership - nominated by Four Dwellings High School Clive Marks School - nominated by Hill Crest High School Birmingham rep Theatre - nominated by Harborne Hill High School Winner: Lovell Partnership for the Quinzone Academy project

	One Edgbaston Community Award - nominees were: Midlands Arts Centre Lord Taverners Lawn Tennis Association Friction Arts Winner: Friction Arts

	University of Birmingham Volunteering Award - nominees were: Read International Selly Oak Play Scheme Saturday Morning Play Scheme Winner: Saturday Morning Play Scheme - a student organised play group for children with special needs and disabilities

We would like to acknowledge the support and commitment of the Event/Award Sponsors:


Our thanks also go to the following who have donated both in kind and in funds:
Birmingham Hippodrome
Birmingham Marriott
Edgbaston Constituency
George Smalling Associates
Majestic Wines
Pinstripe Print Group
Redrow
Rudell the Jewellers
Sarah the Florist
Simpsons

Funds Raised:
The Edgbaston Foundation is delighted to announce that the funds raised at this Inaugural event will be going to the Best Chances Fund.

All funds raised by the Edgbaston Foundation will be administered by the Birmingham Foundation.

The formalising of the grant making committee and grant criteria is yet to be finalised.

For further information on the Edgbaston Foundation please email team@bhamfoundation.co.uk or tel: 0121 214 2080

Disclaimer

News 05/06/07 archive

Events 05/06/07 archive

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