Overview:
We work very closely with Compton Hospice on PR, marketing and media relations. We are proud to have strengthened a willingness to promote its vital services, despite initial reservations. Importantly, we have also boosted understanding and trust of the media.
About the client:
Compton Hospice is the largest adult hospice in the West Midlands and relies on receiving in excess of £1million every year from corporate and community fundraising and donations.
We have worked with the hospice since 2005. During that time we have established a communications strategy in line with their key objectives to -
• increase donations
• attract corporate partners
• promote services available
• announce introduction of new services and future plans
• establish key messages
On-going support has included-
• re-branding - working with their designers to create a new look to all of their literature
• producing an in-house style guide and branding guidelines
• producing copy for newsletters, leaflets, flyers and annual reports
• writing extensive copy for their new website, liaising with board members, heads of department, volunteers and patients
• scripting and overseeing production of a corporate DVD – forging links with the media department of the local university to get media students involved in production
• sitting on the marketing and communications committee and attend regular meetings with the Board of Trustees
• reporting directly to the Head of Fundraising and Communications and providing detailed breakdown of work every month
• presenting detailed analysis and evaluation reports on PR activities to the Board of Trustees and the marketing and communications committee at the end of every financial year
• reviewing the PR schedule at the end of every financial year and preparing revised and updated plans for the forthcoming year
• significantly raising the profile of the hospice in local, regional and national media, securing regular features and media coverage including TV, radio and printed media
• liaising with external agencies and forging relationships on behalf of the hospice
• forging links between businesses and the hospice and identifying links for fundraising
• supporting the fundraising team
• carrying out media reviews and research
• advising staff on how to deal with the media and briefing them for interviews with radio and newspapers
Part of the on-going strategy for the hospice has also been to promote the services to a wider audience. The hospice covers areas that have a diverse population of people from various ethnic backgrounds but traditionally the services have predominantly been used by white British. We have worked with the hospice on this, making sure that information is produced in different languages and that a clear message is given out across their media materials and identified opportunities where possible to create stories and information that highlights the services to appeal to a wider audience.
Testimonial
I have no hesitation in recommending the services of Passionate Media.
Their team have been working with Compton Hospice since April 2005.
They have guided us in formulating an ambitious strategy to help boost our profile and meet our target audience in this ever increasingly competitive market.
We have valued their expertise in revamping our newsletter to take on a more ‘corporate’ feel, their journalistic experience in placing stories on our behalf and their skill in minimising a potentially controversial issue.
The team have produced features on behalf of Compton Hospice which have been well written and used by the media without change, working to the tightest of deadlines.
At all times they have conducted themselves in a professional and courteous manner.
They have gone beyond what has been asked of them in meeting our media relations needs, thanks to the strength of their journalistic credentials.
Carol and Linda even took time to pass on valuable guidance on maximising media coverage to the National Association of Hospice Fundraisers at an event held here. This was done at short notice and to a very high standard.
It’s not often you hear about people who are genuinely passionate about what they do – but I believe this company is very aptly named.
Sue Chance, General Manager Compton Hospice Trading Company
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