Online ishare at www.FreshTies.com launches to make it easy for
Nottinghamshire businesses to help local schools (or community)
with their skills and time rather than money, especially important
in this credit crunch.
The Government are looking into how to better link schools with
businesses. Not-for-profit organisation, FreshTies, is ahead of the
game, and cutting out the bureaucracy. Nottinghamshire company,
AVG, provided staff volunteer readers in the successful pilot with
Bowbridge primary school.
To launch ishare in Nottinghamshire (the first area), one
Nottinghamshire primary school can get £300 worth of
childrens books donated by Macmillan Children's books in
conjunction with not-for-profit organisation, FreshTies. Judges
will be from FreshTies, Nottingham University and the Chair, Newark
Business Club (Dean Hyde). A presenter from Trent FM will present
the prize to the winning school.
ishare at www.FreshTies.com lets schools enter requests for help
from local businesses, such as volunteer readers to visit the
school and read with the students. Businesses simply visit ishare
online to look up requests (or make offers) by area and get in
touch with whom they can help. This cuts out bureaucracy,
businesses get fewer charity requests direct, and charities have to
make fewer calls, so it's 'win-win' for everyone. Schools can
follow their own procedures for CRB checks.
David Dixon, Headmaster of Bowbridge Primary school, said: 'The
ethos of Bowbridge Primary includes environmental, social and
economic sustainability and showing that everyone can make a
difference through active citizenship. Collaborating with FreshTies
ticks all these boxes as it promotes community cohesion and
empowerment through practical projects and activities'.
ishare project manger for FreshTies, Penny Ritson, said: "The
most valuable things involve the human touch, not the money-
fundamental to FreshTies ethos. Money cannot do what people can."
She added: "Helping each other out is all year round and part of
our makeup, not just an annual event for celebrities. The credit
crunch is ultimately the result of greed, and FreshTies ishare is a
reminder of people-helping-people."
To win the books, any Nottinghamshire business, individual or
school (student / teacher) should contact FreshTies via the
FreshTies.com website and nominate a / their school, stating the
school name and a few lines on why. The closing date for
submissions is the 13 November 2009 closing date, and the winner
will be announced on 20th November 2009. Competition details are on
the home page of www.FreshTies.com