Update from the South by Sally Reith

Posted by Ashleigh

December 14, 2009

I am increasingly stretching the boundaries of my role as SRO for the ‘South East’ with trips this month taking me to Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol as well as my well known destination of London.

I started my month with the CABE annual lecture where I met a number of key contacts who will hopefully be able to help us reach new audiences in Cass Business School in London, the General Synod and CABE itself. During National Ethical Investment Week I met many people in many places. I popped along to the NEIW reception event in the House of Commons where a highlight was being able to buy a fair trade Christmas Bauble in the shop there to add to the Newcastle Christmas Decorations. I also attended the City of London Fairtrade Steering Group meeting where discussions were around Fairtrade Fortnight plans and the theme of tea certainly seems to be generating lots of ‘tea dance’ ideas for events. Have you thought about any activities you may be able to get involved with locally where there may be opportunities to promote Shared Interest?

I also attended the ClearlySo social business conference where I was given the opportunity to give a 45 second pitch. Good practice of my ‘Elevator Pitch’ which those of you who have attended our Ambassador training sessions will know well! I will be travelling to Bristol this weekend to run the final Meet Up session, these appear to have proved popular with Ambassadors, members and guests alike.

My trip to Manchester was to support Ashleigh at the Shared Planet event which is People and Planet’s annual event which brings together young people with an interest and passion for changing the world. We had a lot of interest from both prospective Ambassadors but also prospective Members. More recently I visited one of my local Lower Schools, a fair trade school, and ran an assembly there which concluded with the fair trade council presenting me with their application form and cheque to open their Shared Interest account.