July 2009
Community Newswire helps ERIC soar
When national family charity ERIC was preparing its first Awareness-Raising campaign, ‘Banish The Wee Horror’, efforts to attract more media coverage were naturally key.
One in 12 UK families are affected by problems caused when a child or young person wets the bed long after they expect it to be resolved . But only one in three come forward for the support, resources and possible remedies that ERIC exists to provide.
With the support of Community Newswire, ERIC’s media profile soared with coverage in national glossy magazines and daily newspapers, regional press, family-oriented websites and local radio stations. Celebrity endorsers including Julie Walters, Dr Chris Steele, Deidre Sanders (The Sun’s Dear Deidre) and The Mirror’s Dr Miriam Stoppard helped raise the game still further.
ERIC Director Jenny Perez said: “Community Newswire plays an invaluable role in helping a charity like ours, which has limited resources, reach local and national journalists directly. The service is very easy to use too. Highly recommended.”
Media coverage
National television and newspapers, local radio and glossy magazines
July 2009
Volunteers and Community Newswire invaluable
Young volunteers from the Trafford area have raised more than £8,000 for Henshaws Society for Blind People through events such as skydiving and bucket collections at Manchester United. Volunteers Katie Chapman and Rajiv Sethi, both 17, and Jonathan Shaw, 20, presented the cheque for £8,140 to staff at the centre yesterday.
Rachel Skelton at Henshaws said: "The Community Newswire has not only increased the reach of our stories - going direct to many journalists desks - but has also given them more weight. The editors at the newswire help us get to the heart of the stories-and this is invaluable. Our services couldn't run without volunteers and the funds they raise allow us to continue supporting local people with sight loss."
Media coverage:
local and regional
July 2009
Silent comedy has them roaring
People in Bury were invited to watch a play about silent comedy legends Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin, performed on their doorstep. Badapple Theatre Company's touring production of Laurel and Charlie stars Colin Moncrieff as Stan Laurel and Mat Urey as Charlie Chaplin.
‘Thanks very much for your support with this project. We have already heard of coverage through the Manchester Evening News and it was picked up by other papers as well. Thanks again.’ Kate Bramley, Artistic Director
Media coverage:
Regional and local
June 2009
Employment service first to gain autism accreditation
A Liverpool-based vocational support service has become the first employment service in the UK to achieve Autism Accreditation status. The Wavertree branch of Community Integrated Care (CIC), a national social care charity, provides Vocational Support, a service to help people with learning disabilities and mental health concerns into integrated and valued employment, specialising in working with people on the autism spectrum.
John Hughes at Community Integrated Care said: ‘“Community Newswire provides an invaluable service for any charity looking to promote themselves and their news in the media. From our experience, the Community Newswire team have been very supportive of our press releases and are always happy to offer their expertise to improve them so we can maximise our press coverage.”
Media coverage:
Specialised sector press
June 2009
Redundant brickie wins award
A Workington brickie who started volunteering to help jobless teenagers after being made redundant has been honoured for his work. Mike Lomas, 48, was laid off from a local building firm after 32 years of being a brickie. After months of job hunting a friend suggested he volunteered to teach building skills to young people at the Rathbone UK charity. Mike was today named Workington Volunteer of the Year 2009, at Rathbone UK's North West Achievers Awards ceremony.
Peter Gibson from Rathbone said: ‘Thanks for your support with our Midlands Achievers story. We received a full-page feature in the Leicester Mercury and an interview with Rupal Rajani on BBC radio Leicester. A television production company named Shine TV also contacted us following the release and has just filmed a number of pieces with our trainees. Thanks on behalf of all us at Rathbone!’
Media coverage:
Leicester Mercury, BBC Radio Leciester, Shine TV, Leicester Sound Radio
June 2009
Local People, Local Lives
A charity is looking for volunteers to help them with a new project in Stoke-On-Trent aimed at challenging stigma and discrimination around mental health issues. Local People, Local Lives was launched by the Media Action Group for Mental Health and is focused on promoting positive perceptions of mental health and looking at challenges shared by people with mental health issues in the city.
John Gibson at Media Action Group for Mental Health said: 'I find Community Newswire a valuable and easy-to-use resource when promoting events and projects, and have received positive results almost as soon as I started to use it.'
Media coverage:
Local news
June 2009
On your bike
Gloucestershire teenagers were invited to apply for a free electric mountain bike as part of a scheme to help 14 to 19 year olds access full time education. The pilot scheme, set up by Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC) as part of its JumpStart Project, aims to help youngsters who may find it difficult to get to school or college because of transport or financial difficulties.
Barbara Piranty at GRCC said: ‘We used Community Newswire and gained national coverage and generated a great deal of interest and promotion of the packs. We would not hesitate to use the service again. Thank you!’
Media coverage:
National newspapers and television
May 2009
Keepsakes for Willow
Photos of celebrities including Ozzy Osbourne, Sir Alex Ferguson and John Cleese were on show next to pictures of people living with life threatening conditions organised by the Willow Foundation at the SW1 Gallery, Westminster, London. The photographs and interviews are also featured in a book, entitled Keepsakes. The exhibition celebrates 10 years of the Willow Foundation, a charity set up by Arsenal legend and former TV presenter, Bob Wilson and his wife, Megs, that provides special days for seriously ill 16 to 40-year-olds throughout the UK.
Media coverage:
National and weekend daily newspapers
May 2009
Running to say thanks
Jayne Smith, from Keynsham, near Bristol, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2004, has been in remission for nearly four years and she hopes her story will give other sufferers hope. She took part in the marathon to raise money and awareness for the Lymphoma Association, a charity that provides information and support to those affected by the disease, which is the UK's sixth most common cancer.
Media coverage:
Bristol Evening Post, Bristol and Somerset Sunday Independent.
May 2009
Recession drives volunteers
The world of volunteering reported a dramatic increase in the number of people looking for opportunities to volunteer. Leaders of national volunteering organisations attribute this to a rise in unemployment across the UK. With 2 million people currently unemployed, and with an increase in unemployment figures expected tomorrow, leading voluntary sector organisations can reveal the direct impact the recession is having on the volunteering movement according to Volunteering England.
Media coverage:
Charity Times
April 2009
Home means art with help from Stonham
Community Newswire ran the story regarding one of Stonham’s clients had been homeless, but since being introduced to them he went on to secure a home and began hosting his own art exhibitions. Stonham provides housing and support for vulnerable people, including domestic abuse victims, people with mental illness and young people leaving care.
Jerry Lyons at Stonham said: ‘With the help of Community Newswire that story was picked up by regional TV and local BBC radio. Not only did this coverage raise Stonham’s profile it more importantly lifted our clients spirits and played a big part in helping him to feel part of society again. Community Newswire service is fabulous, the staff are thorough and know what they are doing. I often recommend the service to colleagues I meet within the third sector and charitable work.’
Media coverage:
Regional television and BBC radio news
April 2009
Alternative education
The first winner of BBC's The Apprentice backed a new fund offering grants of up to £100,000 to support projects that provide young people with alternatives to traditional education. Tim Campbell supported an investment fund, designed to change the lives of young people from disadvantaged communities across Britain, launched by the Young Foundation. The Learning Launchpad fund will offer a range of investment packages designed to meet the needs of any organisation or individual with an idea to provide alternatives to traditional education for young people aged 14 to 25.
Helen Crumley from The Young Foundation said: 'We were delighted with the response following the help we received from Community Newswire. As an organisation with limited media resources the services offered enabled us to reach far more many outlets than we would have been able to do on our own and helped to get our message out to a wide audience, quickly and effectively.'
Media coverage:
Specialized press, Health Service Journal.
March 2009
Community owned best in region
A community-owned rural shop in Berrynarbor, North Devon, has been named the best village shop and post office in the South-west of England. Berrynarbor Community Shop and Post Office was one of four winners in the South West Countryside Alliance Awards. The awards are designed to celebrate the achievements of unsung rural heroes.
Elizabeth said ‘I just wanted to say thank you very much for writing about Berrynarbor Community Shop recently. We were delighted with the feature and we got a lovely Western Morning News piece, so thank you’
Media coverage:
Regional - Western Morning News, This is North Devon
March 2009
Volunteering for life skills
Essex charity Haven’s Hospice encouraged more teenagers to get involved in volunteering through a scheme that gives young people life skills. Pupils, aged between 16 and 25, from schools and colleges across Southend have completed their 16-week volunteering experience with the Havens Hospices Young Ambassador scheme. The volunteers were split into groups to help the hospice with marketing, fundraising and care. They spent a day or an evening every fortnight working with mentors from the departments to get practical and emotional experience of working within a hospice environment.
Amy Dearing said: “Community Newswire allows the charity to reach our local journalists quickly with accurate copy which maximises our coverage for minimal cost. It has proved an invaluable PR tool for our campaigns.”
Media coverage:
Local newspapers including Echo and Yellow Advertiser.
March 2009
Auction for Autism
Works by some of Britain's top artists with a link to autism went under the hammer to raise funds to help support people affected by the condition. Art fans had the chance to bid for seven pieces of art, that reflect the theme Communication Through Creativity, at the event at the Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, Pall Mall. All proceeds will go to The National Autistic Society (NAS), a charity that supports the half a million people in the UK with autism.
Media coverage:
Local
March 2009
Charity welcomes horse ban
The Horse Trust said it was "delighted" that a couple who failed to treat their horse's weight loss and breathing problems have been banned from keeping equines for five years. The couple were given a five-year ban on keeping horses, a £4,800 fine, court costs of £4,300, and a £15 court surcharge. Flipper, a male pony in his early 20s, has been living safely at The Horse Trust's sanctuary in Speen, Buckinghamshire, since June 2008.
Media Coverage:
Local
February 2009
Cold water champs
The UK Cold Water Swimming Championships was held at Tooting Bec lido in South London. More than 300 competitors braved temperatures expected to be just above freezing point at the championships.
Feedback received from Jonathan Buckley: ‘We had a whole host of media down there including BBC, ITV, Sky, Reuters, numerous photographers and picture agencies, South London Press Wandsworth Borough News, plus radio Chris Evans, Radio Five Live. Thanks again for your help.’
Media coverage:
BBC, ITV, Sky, Reuters, numerous photographers and picture agencies, Daily Telegraph, South London Press Wandsworh Borough News, plus radio Chris Evans, Radio Five Live
February 2009
Youngster can now whizz around at play
Whizz-Kidz presented two disabled youngsters from Birmingham with their brand new powered wheelchairs, which are together worth more than £9,000, at its Children's Mobility Centre in Birmingham. The new wheelchairs, which are rarely given out by the NHS, will help increase the youngsters' independence as they can be used both inside and out. The powered chair given to two-year-old old Lucie Cole, from Erdington, will enable her to go outside to play with her sister.
Rob Dyson from Whizz Kidz said: ‘We got pick up from one hundred and nineteen regional newspapers. Thanks!”
Media coverage:
119 regional newspapers
February 2009
Change how you work
A new Co-operativesUK report was launched setting out the challenges and opportunities for the co-operative sector in engaging ethnic minority communities. An Ethnic Diversity Steering Group, which will review and monitor the implementation of the action plan outlined in the report, was also unveiled.
Lynette Todd at Leicester & County Co-operative Development Agency said: ‘I think Community Newswire is a valuable resource. The value of publicity cannot be underestimated, we use it to show our successes with the co-operatives and social enterprises we work with. This helps us to gain more clients and also can be used as evidence when applying for funding, that we do make a difference to people in the local community by giving business advice to them so they can change the way they work and realise their dreams.’
Media coverage:
local
February 2009
Forum support
The parents of a young girl with a life-limiting illness have today launched a free UK-based online discussion board for other parents and families in the same situation. With the support of their local children's hospice service, CHASE – the parents were able to take their little girl home to enjoy as much time as possible with her. This helped Neil to return to work while Annette became Sophie's full-time carer. It also gave them the chance to work on the website and forum. www.thesophiestory.co.uk
Ian Davies from CHASE said: ‘Coverage in the press is absolutely vital for CHASE hospice care for children. Increased awareness of the needs of the families we support, and of the need for donations and fundraising to sustain our caring service for these families, encourages others to support CHASE and help families with life-limited children and teenagers to make the best of the time they have together. Community Newswire is a fantastic service which does so much good for CHASE and many other charities by helping to increase our presence in the media.’
Media Coverage:
local media
January 2009
Campaign aided hospices
Hospice Aid UK is a unique young charity delivering much needed grants to hospices throughout the UK. Community Newswire covered their 'Hats Off for Hospices' campaign. Hospices throughout the country face the daily task of caring for those who sadly have little time left with us in the most dignified and compassionate way possible, at the same time offering respect and comfort to both the patient, loved ones and families around them.
Trish Loveland from Hospice aid said: ‘Thank you so much for your help with our last campaign. It was a great success and raised over £1000 for us.’
Media coverage:
local
January 2009
TB charity target grant
Target TB, which works throughout the world to eradicate tuberculosis, will receive £103,191 over three years, from the Big Lottery Fund International Communities Programme, to fund one of its key projects in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The charity estimates that it can cost as little as £40 to cure one person and through this prevent another 15 people from becoming infected.
Sophie Davies from Target TB said ‘We got a feature on ITV Meridian, our local channel, check out our website to watch it http://www.targettb.org.uk/ . Thanks so much, really great profile enhancing stuff for us!’
Media coverage:
ITV
January 2009
Sing for Water
Local people in Chichester were treated to singing workshop before a concert, enabling them to join in with two of the songs. The concert was held to raise funds for WaterAid's Sing For Water initiative. The charity works to provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene education to some of the world's poorest people.
Brenda McIlwraith from WaterAid said: ‘I just wanted to say a big thank you to yourself and the Newswire team for the help with the WaterAid Manchester campaigns group and also the Choir event in Chichester for WaterAid. The Choir event was picked up in The News-Portsmouth as a result which was fantastic!’
Media coverage:
local newspapers
January 2009
Mediabox helps pupils explore the media
Pupils at a North East school are set to benefit from a fund that helps young people. A grant from Mediabox will be used to enable 24 students from Choppington to explore healthy living using radio, photography and web production.
Kerry Thorpe said: ‘"Mediabox gives young people the opportunity to talk about the things that matter most to them, giving them a chance to tell their stories and to get their voices heard. Community Newswire is a valuable tool in getting the stories and achievements of young people from across the country into the press. I would recommend it as a vital resource and an excellent tool for any voluntary or charity organisation looking to make the headlines."
Media coverage:
Newcastle day and evening press
December 2008
Soldier launches £1million appeal to help heroes
A soldier who was paralysed while serving in Basra has launched an appeal to raise £1 million for other wounded servicemen and women. Major Phil Packer, 36, suffered a severe back injury in an incident following a rocket attack in February and is now paraplegic. He has pledged to raise £1 million for Help for Heroes, a charity that supports soldiers wounded in current conflicts, and aims to complete any event or sport that he is challenged to in return for donations to his Phil's Millions appeal.
Major Phil said: “I have been delighted with the support I have received from all areas of the Media; Television, Radio and the Nationals, in the quest to raise £1million for Help for Heroes. The coverage generously given was very unexpected and has visibly raised awareness and subsequently attracted more donations. I am grateful to Community Newswire for their understanding, advice and assistance; it is sincerely appreciated.”
Media coverage:
National news coverage including The Telegraph, Sky News, Radio 5 live
December 2008
Man endures hot and cold marathons in memory of father
A Berkshire man undertook a marathon in Chile followed by one in Antarctica in memory of his father who died from leukaemia. Miles Cudmore, from Sunningdale, took part in the Santiago de Chile marathon followed by the Antarctic Ice marathon. The 42-year-old hopes to raise £15,000 for Leukaemia Research, the blood cancer charity, in memory of his father who passed away in October.
Sally Clark at Leukaemia Research, which aims to find better treatments for leukaemia, lymphona and myeloma, said: "Community Newswire's help with the story of Miles Cudmore's grand slam of marathons was invaluable in making it a success. Miles last marathon is in the Antartic and regional and local press across the country have really picked up on the story thanks to their reach. The authority and recognition that the Press Association name lent to the story ensured extensive coverage. Community Newswire is a vital resource that enables our stories to reach a wider readership and we've been thrilled with the results. "
Media coverage:
Local newspapers
December 2008
Open day for practical help
Neurosupport, a Liverpool charity invited members of the public to learn about its work supporting people with neurological conditions at an open day. Neurosupport offers non-medical advice and support to people with neurological conditions, their families and carers. The charity has been running for 15 years and gives practical help to people with conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, brain tumours or migraine.
Danny Start at The Mersey Neurological Trust said: "Community Newswire has been fantastic - enabling Neurosupport to get news on what it's doing out there quickly and effectively. Great stuff!"
Media coverage:
local press
December 2008
Student Union hosts domestic violence awareness
Hull University student's union invited local people to an awareness day on violence against women. They invited members of the public to join students and learn about domestic violence and what can be done to prevent it, inclusing a workshop on how women and girls can keep themselves safe. There was a range of talks on issues such as domestic violence against people with disabilities and violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) relationships.
Coralie Tringham, VP Welfare and Equality for Hull University Union said: It was great speaking to you about our event and thank you for your advice. Viking Radio got in touch with me the day after you ran the story and we had a recurring feature on the Radio Station with a voice interview. So thanks!’
Media coverage:
Local radio
November 2008
New Adventure club for power chair users
A 61-year-old Newcastle woman called on power chair users from across the country to join her club and take part in sports, rallies, trips and other challenges. Mary Lever, who is severely disabled due to rheumatoid arthritis, has set up the Power Chair Challenge Club and now wants disabled and able-bodied people to join her. The club already has a constitution, a bank account and a blog and Mary says now it just needs members and volunteers to help run it.
Mary said: ‘I have just had the Newcastle Chronicle on the phone and they are going to publish the story about us from Community Newswire and the photo. Thanks!’
Media coverage:
Newcastle Chronicle
November 2008
Beaches are health risk
One in three of Britain's beaches poses a health risk to bathers due to water pollution, according to a new report by the Department of Environment (Defra) which shows that 207 of Britain's 587 beaches failed to meet the European Guideline standard for water quality in 2008.The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) says these are the worst results since 2001 and is calling for improvements to be made in the UK's sewage system.
Thomas Bell from MSC said: ‘Media Trust's Community Newswire service can get MCS news releases onto thousands of journalists' desks. As the UK's leading marine campaigns charity, national press coverage is vital for raising issues and motivating support. Community Newswire help us get our messages across.’
Media coverage:
Daily Mail online, Daily Mail print edition, Sunday Times print and online http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article5156882.ece
November 2008
Website is shortlisted for awards
The Breastfeeding Community was nominated in the website of the year category at The Fifth annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. Set up by Stella Onions, The Breastfeeding Community website lists breastfeeding support groups across the UK. It also features other breastfeeding news, events and information and is updated regularly.
Stella said: ‘Thank you for all your help with writing the release and then getting the story out. Thanks again – until next time.’
Media coverage:
Heart FM radio and Ludlow Advertiser
October 2008
Children’s hospice escapes the crunch
A children's hospice is breathing a sigh of relief after it withdrew £600,000 from an Icelandic bank in the nick of time. Rainbows, in Loughborough, said it had a lucky escape. The money had been raised by the public for the charity's £4 million campaign to build an extension. The hospice, which cares for more than 250 seriously and terminally ill youngsters, wants to build a young people's unit to look after older teenagers and young adults.
Scott Lea from Rainbows said: “A high level of media coverage in the East Midlands is essential to the success of Rainbows Children’s Hospice. Almost 90% of our funding comes from the involvement of the local community and businesses, therefore a high level of local awareness is of utmost importance. The most cost effective method of sustaining our profile is through the distribution of regular press releases, Community Newswire has been instrumental in helping our stories get published.”
Media coverage:
Local media, Leicester Mercury
October 2008
Young volunteers hit the surf
Seventy London youngsters, many of whom had never previously left the capital, enjoyed a surfing weekend in Cornwall as a reward for the voluntary work they have carried out in their local communities. The young people, aged 10-22, all do voluntary work as part of London Youth, a network of 400 youth clubs across the capital. The surfing weekend in Bude was organised by the Cornwall-based charity CATS (Community Action Through Sport), a scheme that promotes and rewards young people for positive community action with a sports or healthy living prize.
Clair Roberts from CATS said: ‘I am pretty pleased that I got as many people interested as I did! Thanks for helping us. Community Newswire and Media Trust has been brilliant for us.’
Media coverage:
Western Morning News, Bude and Stratton Post, Cornish Guardian, BBC TV Spotlight, The London Evening Standard, Atlantic FM
October 2008
Volunteering award for Beeb
The BBC has received an award in recognition of the volunteer work carried out by its employees. It has been awarded Volunteering England's Investing in Volunteers for Employers accreditation for its employee volunteer programme, Connect and Create. Connect and Create works with 15 organisations - such as Action for Children, the National Trust and the Media Trust - to provide opportunities for BBC staff to develop skills and creativity by working with a charity or voluntary organisation.
Media coverage:
North London newspapers
October 2008
Shelter marks Government’s report
Housing charity, Shelter, handed out special 'report' cards to Government officials highlighting the numbers of children trapped in bad housing. Campaigners for the charity dressed as old-fashioned schoolmasters to hand out the report cards to staff entering the Treasury in Horse Guards Road and the Communities and Local Government building, Eland House, Bressenden Place.
Media coverage:
www.politics.co.uk , regional press.
September 2008
Back to tradition
A scheme to encourage people back to church is being supported with a call for parishes to re-introduce traditional services at mainstream times. Back to Church Sunday, aimed to get thousands of people to return to the pews they once occupied. One organisation says it provides churches with an ideal opportunity to re-engage with those who turned away when traditional services were replaced with contemporary alternatives. The Prayer Book Society works to promote the Book of Common Prayer, which dates from 1662. It believes that the declining congregations seen through the 1970s and 1980s were due in part to the introduction of modern services in place of the traditional.
"Community Newswire helped to remind newsdesks about the Prayer Book Society's push to try a traditional service on national Back to Church Sunday", says PBS press officer Trevor Butler. "The introduction of more modern services from the 1960s coincided with a decline in church attendance. Many large audience media included the story in their round-up of news, including ITN on-line, orange.co.uk, and cool fm among them."
Media coverage:
Included ITN, orange.co.uk and radio
September 2008
Investigation suggests charity t-shirts improve cycle safety
Charity-branded t-shirts could help keep cyclists safe on Cambridge’s roads according to the findings of an informal study from the Alzheimer’s Research Trust. Staff at the Great Shelford charity who cycle to work had noticed that wearing one of the charity’s purple or white t-shirts seemed to incline drivers to leave more space when passing. To see if the theory held water, a team of four cyclists embarked on a simple two-week investigation intermittently wearing Alzheimer’s Research Trust t-shirts and other clothing.
Tim Parry from Alzheimer’s Research Trust said: ‘Community Newswire helped enormously when we issued our press release about a cycling investigation in which some members of our team took part. We had no experience of working with the cycling press, and Newswire helped expose the story to a number of specialist sites, as well as bolstering our PR efforts in the regions. It’s a great tool for us that we use on a regular basis.’
Media coverage:
BBC regional news, cycling press
August 2008
Golden Ticket to meet Beefy
Forty golden tickets were hidden in packs of chocolates being sold to raise cash for Leukaemia Research and those who found them won the chance to meet cricketing legend Sir Ian Botham. The chocolates, bought for a suggested donation of £1, with all profits going to Leukaemia Research. The golden ticket winners had the opportunity to meet and walk with Sir Ian on one of the nine days of his walk.
Sally Clark, Media Manager at blood cancer charity Leukaemia Research said: "Community Newswire’s help with the launch of Sir Ian Botham’s charity chocolates sold in support of his 2008 walk for Leukaemia Research was invaluable in making it a success. Their journalists’ contacts with regional and local press across the country meant that it reached a huge readership. The authority and recognition that the Press Association name lent to the story ensured extensive coverage. Using community newswire made that story for us. "
Media coverage:
The story reached a combined audience of over 2 million and had an AVE of over £23,000. Thanks to Community Newswire, it hit BBC Online and most of the key regionals and local papers including Belfast Telegraph, Yorkshire Post, Eastern Daily Press, Northern Echo, North Wales Weekly News, Birmingham Post, Cornwall Independent, Wales Daily Post, South Wales Argus, Western Daily Press, Western Morning News, The York Press, Evening Chronicle, Plymouth Independent, West Bristol Independent, Maidenhead Advertiser, Shropshire Star, Evening Chronicle, Craven Herald & Pioneer Durham Times, Windsor & Maidenhead Observer, Teesside Shields Gazette, Dundee Courier & Advertiser, Wigan Evening Post, The Newcastle Daily Journal, Bradford Telegraph & Argus and Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph.
August 2008
Annual Gathering for peace
One of Britain's oldest Muslim communities used its annual gathering to show how it could provide a model for other Muslims of how to live in perfect harmony with others. 30,000 members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community gathered for the biggest annual gathering of UK Muslims.
Dr Basharat Nazir, National Press Secretary for Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK was delighted with the help and coverage.
Media coverage:
24dash.com
August 2008
Lions roar across countries
A father and daughter from Surrey embarked on a 'round-the-world' trip, without leaving the shores of the UK, to raise cash for multiple sclerosis charities by driving across the country visiting exotic-sounding places such as Egypt, California and Toronto in a weekend. Vic, who is president of Guildford Lions Club, had full support from Lions Clubs around the country and hoped to meet with them on the drive.
Media coverage:
National including TV news
July 2008
Fight to save wild donkeys
Devon-based charity, The Donkey Sanctuary met with government officials in the Caribbean in an attempt to save 60 donkeys from slaughter as an island is cleared for development.
The Donkey Sanctuary believed the wild donkeys and horses of Salt Cay island, Turks and Caicos, were due to slaughtered for meat, but it also claims that in the past donkeys have been dumped at sea and left to drown. The Donkey Sanctuary was told about the plans by a supporter of the charity and swung into action to save the donkeys and ensure their future welfare.
Dawn Vincent from the Donkey Sanctuary said of Community Newswire: ‘Thank you for always helping us out – we really do appreciate it.’
Media coverage:
Western Morning News plus additional local media
July 2008
Creating little green spaces for all
Little Green Space is an environmental project based in the Derbyshire Dales, working in partnership with schools, businesses, councils, community groups and local people to create a network of little green spaces.
Most villages, towns and cities have land, including gardens, school grounds, parkland and wasteland which could be doing so much more for the environment as well as for people and wildlife.
Richard Bunting at Little Green Space said: 'The coverage we received on Community Newswire was a big help. We were able to place a link to the story on our website but we were also pleased and surprised to receive a call from ITV Central News.
We hadn't sent our press release to them as we didn't think it would be a television story, but the journalist had seen the Community Newswire story and wanted to follow-up. From this we also have an interested contact there, which is a huge help to a new, community-orientated charity like us. The recent launch of our educational programme and work with schools was also featured on Community Newswire, which again was much appreciated.'
Media coverage:
ITV Central news, online, call from BBC East midlands
July 2008
Disabled and deaf artists invited to apply for an award worth £5,000
Shape, an organisation that works with disabled and deaf artists, put out a call for applications for the Adam Reynolds Memorial Bursary.
The bursary is designed to offer a disabled or deaf visual artist the opportunity to develop their creative ideas without the pressure to deliver a defined outcome. In addition to the funds, the successful artist will be given a residency at Liverpool's Bluecoat Arts Centre and will also receive advice from Tate Liverpool.
Melanie Stidolph, Project Coordinator, Arts Team at Shape said: 'I’ve just checked out your site (Community Newswire) and can see the article there, great, thank you! Its already been picked up by the Liverpool Echo.’
Media coverage:
Liverpool Echo and other local media
July 2008
Children’s hospice has a fun and rewarding weekend
Little Havens Children's Hospice has raised more than £50,000 for life-limited youngsters at its weekend fundraiser.
During the event 900 people took to the local cycle paths for the Essex Countryside Bike Ride and around 40 Ferrari sports cars descended on Little Havens to take car enthusiasts out for a 10 minute spin. One driver even brought his prized possession over from Switzerland to take part.
Little Havens provides respite breaks and end-of-life care for youngsters across Essex not expected to reach adulthood. In the last 10 years, it has cared for over 1,000 children and their families from across Essex and parts of London.
Media coverage:
Echo, Yellow Advertiser
July 2008
Grant to support young people with learning difficulties
Young people with learning disabilities in the North East will benefit from an £8,000 Goodfund grant to help them live more independently. Mencap, with offices in Gateshead, Durham and Darlington, will use this money to continue supporting local people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
GoodFund, distributes money from the Postcode Lottery to create a support network for people who find it hard to learn, understand and communicate.
Manuela Wendler at GoodFund said she was delighted with the Community Newswire and subsequent local media coverage which raised awareness of the charity.
Media coverage:
Northern Echo and other local media