The Nottingham-based homelessness charity Framework has
appointed award-winning communications consultancy BCS to provide
digital media services, assisting the charity in its aim to raise
its profile.
As part of the campaign, the agency joined The Big Sleep Out
2010, generating photographic and video coverage. At the event,
which took place on Bolero Square at Nottingham's Capital FM Arena,
200 people slept outside to raise funds for the charity and
awareness of homelessness.
BCS has also developed a blog for the charity and is providing
social media training.
Chris Senior, Framework's head of fundraising &
communications, commented: "Social media provides a powerful new
communications resource that is relevant to any business or
organisation and we want to use it to maximum effect.
"We are delighted to be developing our capability with the
guidance of real experts in the field: the support we have received
from the BCS team led by Rob Wilmot has been outstanding and we
look forward to benefiting from their continued support."
Framework, whose objective is to enable people to live
independently in the community, provides housing, support, care,
treatment, training and resettlement services for around 7,000
homeless and vulnerable people each year across Nottinghamshire,
Derbyshire, Leicestershire and South Yorkshire.
Rob Wilmot, director of BCS Digital, commented: "It's great to
be working with Framework and helping to raise the profile of such
a worthy cause. With the charity facing severe government cuts,
it's crucial that the public and government are aware of the
important work that Framework does."
Last Autumn the Government announced that the key Supporting
People budget, which funds support to homeless and vulnerable
people, would be cut by 12 per cent over four years. However
Framework is likely to lose significant funding from both
Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, as it
is expected that the cuts handed down by local authorities will be
in the region of 50 per cent.
Faced with this challenge Framework plans to step up its
fundraising effort and considers that social media will be
important in raising the profile of the cause, explaining the need
and attracting donations.