Christmas 2008

We have updated our website with details of our Christmas induction times for 2008. We have also added in the shifts for volunteers. If you have any questions then please email enquiry@openchristmas.org

Charity Dog Walk

Lynne Murray organised a sponsored dog walk for BCS back in July. We've managedto locate a few fotos thanks to Neil Foster...

Image 1: Mike, Jamie, Lynne and friends waiting for the off

Image 2: confusion reigns

Image 3: patience

Street Collection: fotos

A couple of fotos of from Ali R have winged their way to me. Look how pleased our glorious leader is with himself!! And so he should be after all his sterling work!!

Image 1: Jamie in Carrs Lane

Image 2: collection tin

Street Collection: Saturday 13 September

Yesterday 34 of us were involved in a street collection around Birmingham City Centre. We raised over £1,000 and are so grateful to everyone who volunteered for a 3 hour shift. Thankfully the weather was fine. The Trustees would also like to thank Carrs Lane Church for their logistical support, and for those who were involved in managing the collection process and keeping tired spirits high.

It was also really great to see volunteers and friends whom we hadn't seen since last Christmas. The number of Volunteers who came along was excellent and it really helps the Trustees to know that so many people are able to help us out at key times throughout the year.

Walk a mile

We decided that July would be "Walk a Mile Month" for BCS, and encouraged all our volunteers to organise walks with friends, colleagues, workmates. We hoped for a minimum donation of a quid per person walking.

I organised a walk at De Montfort University at the start of the month and raised £100.

Special congratulations are due to Lynne Murray who raised £128.50 with her dog ‘walk a mile’! Special thanks are also due to Neil Foster, who produced the sponsor forms and posters. Lynne also presented a cheque to our Chair, Jamie for £500 from the Zurich Community Trust. Lynne had approached them and told them about BCS. This was a fantastic donation. Well done Lynne!

Woodgate Valley Open Day

So Mike, Ali, Lynda, Lynne and I had a great time at Woodgate last Sunday. The weather was glorious, our new banner was unfurled and the business cards were unleashed. More importantly, 190 balloons were filled with helium (mainly by Mike!) and released by the variety of interested families and individuals. Each balloon had business cards and names attached to them (by Lynda and Lynne), and Ali managed the administration of it all magnificently. I am unsure quite what I contributed other than sunscreen and going on tea runs.

We raised £125.14, which was a great total, and we are so grateful for all of the voluntary contributions. This was a great test for the ideas raised by the new fundraising committee. Moreover, the day went really well for Woodgate Farm and we really feel we are building a good relationship with this excellent, a voluntary organisation (based on Alan's hard work).




Our next fund raising event will be our "Walk a mile" initiative in July. Watch this space!!

Woodgate Valley Urban Farm

We have a stall at Woodgate Valley Urban Farm Open Day on Sunday 8 June from 11 - 4. You should be able to spot us in our blue, yellow and red BCS T-shirts blowing up balloons and looking cheery. If you are there it would be great to chat to you, so pop over.

It will be the first outing for our new banner/business cards, as we move towards a more professional approach to volunteering. Looking forward to seeing you there - the weather will be good so pack your suntan lotion...

Minutes of the Trustees' Meeting of 10 May, 2008

Apologies for the late upload of these minutes... You just can't get the volunteers you know...

Mike, Richard, Ali and Jamie attended, although Ali had to leave early, and Pol/Russ gave their apologies.

Matters arising

In terms of matters arising from previous meetings we have contacted those great businesses who supported us last Christmas: Aubrey Allen; and Merrychef. Mike has also contacted the local Mosque to thank them.

Richard needs to transfer and sort the website, domain details, databases etc..

Jamie has brought the excellent Christmas card hand-painting to St George’s. We will be producing Christmas Cards based on this design and will house it at St George's as a celebration of time and support.

All our Charity Commission documentation is completed, registered & stored on our Google archives.

Woodgate Valley Urban Farm Open Day

Mike has contacted Woodgate Valley Urban Farm about our stall on Sunday 8 June. We are really pleased to have this opportunity to work with Woodgate at their open day. Ali has ordered some balloons and helium, and Richard has ordered some advertising materials. Mike is pretty effusive about the lie-of-the-land and what the Farm has to offer us.

Security

Jamie and Ali will be speaking to recruitment agencies, and investigating a possibility or two that Ali has found.

Trustees

Russell England resigned with immediate effect. Pol has forwarded a thank you letter to Russ on behalf of the Trustee and charity.

Ali has been formally welcomed to the board.

Strapline

For the time being we have decided to use the strapline, "Where will you spend Christmas?"

Fundraising

Linda G has forwarded bullet points for an e-mail letter about our proposed “Walk a mile for the homeless” in July. Pol will formulate and distribute to all active Vol’s by e-mail or post.

There is a Street collection in Birmingham city centre on Sat 13^th Sept 08. Our application has been received by council, and we are awaiting outcome. Sticker flags maybe used, and each donor will be given a business card. We thank that up to 50 volunteers may be needed on 2 shifts. We will be operating from 10am – 5pm. Active volunteers will be contacted by e-mail letter or post. If you are interested let us know.

Lynn M suggested that her daughter could advise the Fundraising committee as she has experience with similar organisations and fundraising. We are happy to accept these kind offers of support, so let us know what other skills you have.

We are considering BCS charity tins to be placed in local shops/businesses which sponsor and support BCS. We are also considering which local businesses to promote and advertise on our website

Potential Area Supervisors

All potential new Area Supervisors have been contacted, and we are really pleased with the quality and commitment of our new supervisors.

It was agreed on receiving 2 satisfactory references new A/S would be contacted by phone, informed their application had been successful but they still have the option of a 121 interview with a trustee.

Next meetings

There will be a joint Trustee and Area Supervisors Meeting Sat 5th July 08

The next Trustee’s Meeting is on Sat 7^th June 08

Fundraising: Part 2

There was a second meeting of the Fundraising Committee, held in Moseley, on Wednesday evening.

In Attendance were Jamie, Ali and Lynda, with apologies from me, Mike, Sandra, Karen and Lynn.

Action Points and whether or not they are Implemented (I) or On-going (O/g) are noted below. There are a lot of possibilities and a lot of activity.

Richard:
1. Facebook Group and Blog set-up: I
2. Tag registered on YouTube, BCS: I
3. Group e-mail link for Fundraising Committee: O/g
4. Poster, Printing, setting & business cards: Trustees will discuss this on Saturday.
5. Youtube videos: o/g
6. Contact to be made with local football club supporters' trusts: o/g

Jamie:
1. Street collection application and confirmation received from City council: o/g
2. Circular, letter, leaflet for BCS promotion to local organisations: o/g
3. Local charity Patrons to be contacted: O/g

Mike:
2. Woodgate valley: Not prudent to give gifts, suggest balloons, approx 200 visitors. Action: Balloons, helium, business cards and £10-£25 winning voucher to be purchased.

Lynda:
1. 1 mile sponsored walk: e-mail circular to active volunteers: o/g
2. Contact small local business, restaurant, hairdresser etc to advertise on BCS web site: o/g
3. Disco Lads: arranging meet O/g

New Trustee

Jamie, Mike and Richard met Ali R on Saturday over orange juice and toast, to discuss her becoming a new Trustee for BCS. The damage that Jamie and Mike are doing to their respective arteries is shown below.

However, the big news is that having taken up references and gone though a preliminary and final interview Ali is now a Trustee. We are really pleased about this because it is the diversity and unity of the Trustees that help give the Charity its vision and momentum, as well as its structure. Moreover, we need to spread the workload in a sustainable manner.

Again, much of our discussion covered fundraising, security during Christmas week and enhancing our overall impact and effectiveness. On the first of these points the fund-raising committee meets tomorrow night.

p.s. don't forget to join the Facebook group.

Our glorious leader:

Mike concentrates:

Fundraising sub-committee

We held a Trustee & Volunteer fundraising meeting on Saturday @ St Georges Post-16 centre. In attendance were Jamie Reynolds, Richard Hall, Mike Davey, Lynda Gibbon, Lynn Murray, Sandra Ward and Karen Everett, with apologies from Pol Davey.

So, the Trustees are pretty driven by the need to extend our fundraising beyond donations [which we still need and greatly appreciate!!!]. We were really pleased that a new fundraising committee has been formed to ensure the future financial security of the charity and to raise its profile. All those who attended have agreed to take an active roll and Jamie has agreed to coordinate.

We agreed to investigate the following points around fundraising and awareness-raising.

1. Birmingham City Centre Street collection for Saturday 13th Sept 2008. If you are interested email volunteer@openchristmas.org.
2. Leaflet promotion, to local organisations e.g., Churches, mosques, Temples, Synagogues, Masons, Lions, Co-op, Golf clubs, Schools, Universities, Football clubs, Birmingham Bullets and Moseley Rugby Club.
3. To look for active patrons for BCS.
4. To investigate local industrial links, alongside community centres and libraries.
5. To work up a plan for local, devolved and sponsored events, that can be held at the same time rather than in the same space.
6. To attend the Woodgate Valley Urban Park Open Day on Sunday 8 June @ 11am. Come and meet us there!!
   
7. To evaluate how Facebook, YouTube and Blogs might be used. You can join our Facebook BCS group.
   

We are so grateful to all who attended today, its was very motivating. The new board of Trustee's are very grateful for your time, commitment and energy!!!

Our next Meeting will be 7.30pm on Wed 7th May 2008, Venue to be arranged.