Passionate Blog

Lavish charity ball set to Help the Heroes

ORGANISERS of a glittering event to raise cash for wounded servicemen and women to be held at RAF Cosford are appealing for people to help aid their recovery by coming along and have a great night out.

The summer ball, on July 12, hosted by senior officers, will boost the coffers of Help for Heroes, a national charity also backed by stars including David Beckham, Sir Michael Caine and singer James Blunt.

It’s hoped that the James Bond themed evening, celebrating the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth, can raise more than £50,000 for services personnel injured in Afghanistan and Iraq. Nationally, Help for Heroes has already raised more than £5 million.

Have you backed Beacon Centre for the Blind's Second Site appeal yet?

YESTERDAY, thanks to the work we do with Wolverhampton's Novotel Hotel, I was given a guided tour of the city's Beacon Centre for the Blind - a facility I knew was there, had passed many times, but am a little embarrassed to admit, had never stepped foot inside.

Details of an exciting project between the centre and the Novotel are still being finalised, but yesterday's visit has shown me why such an event will be so worthwhile.

So what does the centre do exactly?

It's a local charity which promotes independence and choice to more than 3,000 visually impaired people in the Black Country and South Staffordshire.

New T-shirt design helps plant seeds of change

A STYLISH new kids’ T-shirt motif has blossomed into a money-spinner for a nationwide scheme to plant more trees.

Little Blue Dog’s latest design depicts an oak tree and has the motto: “Plant a seed and watch it grow…”

The design is also being used on a reusable canvas shopping bag, and together with the T-shirt, both are being used to raise cash for The Woodland Trust’s Tree for All campaign, with £1 per sale being donated directly to the charity.

Little Blue Dog director Emma Williamson explained that the company was keen to support the Woodland Trust.

Right royal surprise for Rodbaston

WE'RE delighted to be working with Rodbaston College as of this week - and our first task has been pretty high-profile as we wait with bated breath to see all the coverage generated by a surprise royal visitor.

The college's two-day horse trials, which began yesterday at its site near Penkridge, counted the Queen’s granddaughter, Zara Phillips, 27, among the competitors.

The gifted royal, whose impressive three day eventing achievements led to her being awarded an MBE for services to equestrianism last year, was this year’s professional rider at the event, entering the novice class with four horses.

A big thanks goes to Helen who turned the press release around so quickly and calmly when up against such a tight deadline, helping get the word out to the media. So far coverage has included a front page piece in The Birmingham Post, as well as a story and pictures in the Express & Star, with more planned in for this evening.

You can also check out Daily Mail coverage of the princess taking a tumble here.