Engagement

Hi everyone

It is very evident to me that there is a strategic need to engage very closely with potential corporate funders, and build that relationship.

This was in part the theme of RAISE network meeting in London on Thursday with presentations by the CEO of NAVCA, (Kevin Curly) and by the inspiring CEO of The Big Society Network and The Square Mile (Paul Twivy) . The latter  being particularly interesting.

All the reports/ presentations mentioned here will be on our website next week (on Monday/Tuesday).

And finally I can’t forget that there are now 950,000 young people unemployed, though surprisingly the number in Surrey is still going down (as at December 2010), and that the education maintenance allowance is to be abolished,  which will I think have a very adverse effect on continuing education of 16-19 year olds from low income families.

Don’t forget to book into our Faiths in Action conference for young people on 23 Feb – see website.

Personal disclosure:   As I was berating Goldman Sachs for its average salary/ bonus of £230,000 I learnt today that they have just given a decent sum to one of our member organisations. Two sides to every coin.

Trivial Pursuit: 
1)       Last weeks answer: Wikipedia is now 10 years old.
2)       This week’s question : Has there ever been husband and wife team in Cabinet or Shadow cabinet before ? (ie like Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper) ?

Enjoy the weekend
Mike