Charity thanks local support after fire left them homeless
Exeter-based PR consultant Glen King made a passionate appeal to local businesses at the Business Network (SW) November lunch to raise much-needed funds and support for the local charity Surf Life Saving GB, which was left homeless following a fire at their City centre office. Since the blaze on the 2nd November, Glen has been actively offering her PR services for free to help promote the plight of Surf Life Saving GB to gain public support. This results from extensive smoke damage to the charity’s headquarters in Southernhay after the fire which started on the ground floor of the shared-building.
Innovative Glen made an unscheduled presentation to the 70 decision makers attending the lunch held at Exeter Golf & Country Club. She appealed for support to offer resources, manpower and funds for the charity. A former media spokesperson for Camelot, Operators of The National Lottery, Glen invited donations by organising an impromptu business card draw for the chance to win her PR services. £400 was raised at the event and the winner was Catherine Petherick, Local Business Development Manager of Audi Exeter, drawn out by Sean Humby of Business Network (SW).
Glen King, Director of Glen King PR/Marketing says: “Esther Pearson the Chief Executive of Surf Life Saving GB is a former colleague from mine Camelot days when we paid out the major Lottery winners together across the South West from the Exeter Regional Centre. We have remained close friends since that time and I wanted to do all I could to help the charity through this extremely difficult time by offering complimentary PR services.
"Sean Humby of Business Network (SW) did not hesitate to offer me this opportunity to make the appeal in what was already a jam-packed schedule. I am a firm believer in the ethos that businesses give back to their community and everyone was fully behind the initiative and very supportive. We even had three offers of temporary accommodation, including one from Exeter Racecourse to help the charity’s dedicated team of 10 carry on their good works until they can safely return to their headquarters.”
Surf Life Saving GB is a charity with more than 6,000 volunteers which helps to make our beaches a safer and more enjoyable place. SLSGB volunteers have been providing beach lifeguard training and patrolling the coast for nearly 60 years. The Southernhay office has a dedicated team of 10 members of staff who look after 70 clubs and 6,000 members all over the country.
Esther Pearson, CEO of the charity says: "The fantastic support from the local business community and Glen King has given the charity an immense boost at this difficult time. The local media has been fantastic in reporting our plight and we can’t thank everyone enough. The monies raised will help us to start getting back on our feet. We will be moving into new offices next door to our fire-damaged property, and we’re looking forward to getting settled into our new place."
