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Cancer Research new campaign: “Create the Change” will see the charity looking overseas for the first time for funding for the development of a new research institute in the UK. They hope that they can attract high-end donations from individuals, trusts and foundations around the world, especially from cash rich countries such as the Middle East and the US., This is so they can fund their it’s £160m contribution to The Francis Crick Institute.

The institute is a joint partnership with global organisations Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust and University College London. This means that Cancer Research can look outside of the UK for funding, which it has not done before.

The Catalyst Club which was introduced by the charity in May 2011 as a major donation programme to attract 100 philanthropists each able to donate £100,000 over three years is being ramped up to attract more donations for other aspects as well.

An online advertising campaign for the Catalyst Club run by Cancer Research, features its patron, former Dragons’ Den star James Khan will target high net worth individuals. As well as an advertising campaign, Khan and the charity will also host a number of private dinners, which will include an event at Downing Street that is to be hosted by George and Frances Osborne, to attract future donors.

Russell Delew, director of major giving at Cancer Research UK said: “High value is a new area for us to focus on. We’ve grown as a result of mass giving and 90% of our donors give around £10, but we have to have an offer that appeals to the high end. If we are asking for major donations, these kinds of philanthropists want to see where that money is going. It’s a version of what galleries do with patrons and offering additional benefits for support.”

To raise money for research into “personalised medicine” which according to Cancer Research could revolutionise treatments, the charity set up The Catalyst Club. They hope that in the future they can develop a test that can identify which kind of treatment would be most successful for a cancer patient at the point of diagnosis. Their specific aim was to raise £10million for the research and once they have achieved this they move on and may launch a similar “club” initiative to raise funds for another specific cause.

Its hoped that research could lead to patients could be given the treatment that is most effective for their cancer, rather than going through long, traumatic and expensive radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatments only to find that they have not been effective.

David Beckham

David Beckham

Picture courtesy of adifansnet

Four months after Jamie Oliver announced he was stepping down as the face of Sainsbury’s after Christmas, it has now been revealed that former England football captain David Beckham will be taking over.

Jamie Oliver has been the face of Sainsbury’s for eleven years inviting us to shop there with an array of food and recipes as well as activities for the whole family and now we will see David Beckham take his place fronting Sainsbury’s Active Kids campaign and promoting the companies sponsorship of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

This time around though Sainsbury’s will be taking a slightly different approach, by having David promote the supermarkets work with children rather than its products. David will be appearing in adverts for them with the first due to show in cinemas from November 25. David will be joining as an ambassador for the Active Kids campaign along with existing ambassador Paralympic swimmer, Ellie Simmonds.

As part of Sainsbury’s Active Kids campaign David Beckham will be helping the company in their attempt to stem the growth of obesity and inactivity among children, so far the company have donated more than £115 million worth of equipment to schools and sports clubs. They also want to get more than a million children to try a Paralympic sport with their 1 Million Kids Challenge. David Beckham who is a popular personality especially among youngster will be featuring in the adverts encouraging more children to take up one of the sports.

Speaking about his new position at Sainsbury’s David Beckham said: “I know the difference leading a healthier and more active life can make to kids and I have been really impressed with the long-term commitment that Sainsbury’s has made. I am looking forward to working with Sainsbury’s to help UK kids have fun, become even more active and introduce them to Paralympic sports through the 1 Million Kids Challenge.”

Justin King, the supermarket’s chief executive, said: “As a world-class athlete and father of four, David is the ideal ambassador to support our commitment to encourage children to get active and live healthier lifestyles for less money. And with a year to go until the Paralympic Games, David’s involvement in the 1 Million Kids Challenge will raise the profile even further of disability sport, to help us make this the best Paralympic Games yet.”

Sainsbury's

Oxfam and Marks & Spencer’s Clothing Exchange!

According to the second annual C&E Corporate NGO Partnerships Barometer the tie-up between Oxfam and Marks & Spencer is the “most admired” partnership between a corporate organisation and a charity.

In an ever unsure financial market partnerships between corporate and charity organisations are becoming ever more important as both sectors look for more strategic partnerships. There is also a lot more pressure now for companies to demonstrate sustainable and ethical business practices. The report by the second annual C&E Corporate NGO Partnerships Barometer found that the majority of businesses (88%) and NGOs (93%) think that partnerships are highly important to their organisations and more than three quarters (78%) plan to increase their investment in the area in the next three years.

Since 2010 the number of organisations looking to engage in more strategic partnerships has increased by 14%, not only that 57% of corporate respondents describing their partnerships as ‘strategic’ as both sectors look to leverage each other’s skills and assets.

However there have been doubts raised by corporate businesses and NGO’s over the ability of the Government’s Big Society and its influence over the corporate responsibility agenda, despite the increasing importance of cross-sector partnerships.