24th & 25th January 2012:
Formed following the merger of Age Concern England and Help the Aged, Age UK has a vision of a world in which older people flourish. They aim to improve later life for everyone through information and advice, campaigns, products, training and research. In 2009/10, the charity worked with local partners to deliver information and advice to over 5 million people, helping to put more than £14million of income back into their pockets. Through their research they have helped to increase understanding of age-related conditions and are making breakthroughs that will significantly improve health in later life. The charity is recognised as one of the three top influencing charities in Westminster and works to represent the needs of older people in society. www.ageuk.org.uk
CEO: Tom Wright CBE
Challenge: How does AgeUK influence organisations to better embrace the challenges and opportunities
of an ageing society?
22nd & 23rd February 2012: As part of the international WWF network, WWF-UK addresses global threats to people and nature such as climate change, the peril to endangered species and habitats and the unsustainable consumption of the world’s natural resources. They do this by influencing how governments, businesses and people think, learn and act in relation to the world around us, and by working with local communities to improve their livelihoods and the environment upon which we all depend. WWF uses its practical experience, knowledge and credibility to create long-term solutions for the planet’s environment. www.wwf.org.uk
CEO: David Nussbaum
Challenge: How do we rally business support for greater commitments to protecting biodiversity in the run up to the Rio +20 Summit in June 2012?
19th & 20th June 2012: Comic Relief strives to create a just world free from poverty. Their mission is to drive positive change through the power of entertainment. Since they first set up shop 25 years ago, they’ve been doing three main things: raising millions of pounds through two big fundraising campaigns – Red Nose Day and Sport Relief, spending that money in the best possible way to tackle the root causes of poverty and social injustice, and using the power of their brand to raise awareness of the issues that they care most about. www.comicrelief.com
CEO: Kevin Cahill
Challenge: How can Comic Relief access innovation as well as capitalise on its own creativity to generate new ideas to drive fundraising in the future? What level of risk should we be able to tolerate in pursuit of such innovation?
10th & 11th July 2012: Sightsavers International is an international charity which works with partners to eliminate avoidable blindness and promote equality of opportunity for disabled people in the developing world. The charity works to combat blindness, restoring sight through specialist treatment and eye care. They help the people who need it most - those living in poverty in some of the world's poorest countries. They also support people who are irreversibly blind by providing education, counselling and training. www.sightsavers.org
CEO: Caroline Harper
Challenge: How should we go about creating a model for recruiting and retaining committed donors that could be rapidly replicated in a range of different countries?
26th & 27th September 2012: Rainbow Trust Children's Charity provides emotional and practical support to families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness. The charity's family support workers join the family in their own home and are there to provide whatever practical support is needed. They may attend hospital appointments with parents, sit by the bedside of the sick child to give parents a break and spend time with worried siblings. www.rainbowtrust.org.uk
CEO: Heather Wood
Challenge: To be confirmed
9th & 10th October 2012:
The National Trust works to preserve and protect the buildings, countryside and coastline of England, Wales and Northern Ireland in a range of ways through practical conservation, learning and discovery. By actively encouraging everyone to visit and enjoy their national heritage, they strive to educate people on the importance of the environment and of preserving our heritage for future generations. The charity also contributes to important debates over the future of the economy, the development of people’s skills and sense of community, and the quality of the local environment in both town and country. www.nationaltrust.org.uk
CEO: Dame Fiona Reynolds DBE
Challenge: To be confirmed
6th & 7th November 2012: Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer. The charity provides support with all the things that people affected by cancer want and need. They recognise that it is not only patients who live with cancer and with this in mind they also help families, carers and communities. In addition to the services they provide through the likes of nurses, specialist health care professionals and cancer care centres. Macmillan also gives financial help including grants to help with anything from heating bills and travel costs. The charity also works to fight discrimination from challenging unfair travel costs and insurance policies to improving the national benefits system. www.macmillan.org.uk
CEO: Ciarán Devane
Challenge: To be confirmed
