Rory Sutherland leads Ogilvy in driving change through Pimp My Cause

Rory Sutherland, Vice-Chairman of Ogilvy & Mather UK and world-leading proponent of behavioural economics is leading a new collaboration between Pimp My Cause and Ogilvy.

Rory Sutherland became an ambassador for Pimp My Cause after being introduced to it’s founder Paul Skinner through the Big Society Network. And that introduction has led to a new partnership in which Ogilvy’s specialist behavioural science practice, #ogilvychange will adopt three Pimp My Cause member organisations a year. 

#ogilvychange uses the latest in cognitive psychology, social psychology and behavioural economics to create behavioural change in the real world.

The collaboration will help develop practical creative applications of recent advances in the science of behavioural economics, effectively creating a “field lab” for implementing behavioural insight in addressing real world social problems. 

Rory Sutherland is one of the most influential figures in advertising, and championed the role that behavioural economics plays in marketing during his chairmanship of the IPA. “The purpose of behavioural economics is simple. It is to enable people to make better choices by designing and framing choices in accordance with human nature. The value this can offer to social marketing programmes and charities is potentially limitless. It was always our intention that #ogilvychange should devote part of its time to charitable causes and to small businesses. There were two reasons for this. One is wholly altruistic – the use of behavioural economics is a relatively quick and inexpensive way to make a difference to such organisations where it matters most. And there is, of course, an ulterior motive, in that lessons learned from these activities can be deployed elsewhere in our commercial work”.

In Rory’s Tedx talk in Athens he talks about the importance of perception over reality and the value of psychology over traditional economics in finding a successful outcome to any problem. 

According to Jez Groom, head of #ogilvychange, “We created #ogilvychange to increase the health, wealth and wellbeing of people across the world and we can think of no better partnership, than with Pimp My Cause to further this ambition. #ogilvychange combines the gravitas of academia with the real world communication expertise to create little behavioural ideas that can have a demonstrable effect and can really help some of these very worthwhile causes.”

Three cause members who are actively seeking solutions to behaviour change problems will be selected per year in an ongoing collaboration that will support each chosen cause with behavioural advice and creative solutions to the challenges they face. The process will create a new body of emerging knowledge that will be shared across the Pimp My Cause platform and across Ogilvy’s audiences for the broader benefit of society. There are also plans to develop fresh ways to activate Ogilvy’s growing broader behaviour change community inside and outside the Group to harness its talent for good. 

Paul Skinner, founder of Pimp My Cause said: “Behavioural economics represents a great opportunity for small charities and social enterprises seeking to make a big difference. Its insights often cost nothing to apply and can make a disproportionate contribution to the kinds of changes that voluntary sector organisations are trying to achieve. This is also a great example of leadership from Ogilvy in showing that marketers are among the best placed professionals to creatively apply its principles and that agencies can make a real difference even away from their traditional high media spend environment.”

Friday 17th May is Give and Gain Day, part of Business In The Community’s year-round campaign to make volunteering fun, accessible and inspirational. It connects skilled professionals with community organisations by matching them with a volunteering project.

As part of this programme, innovative social enterprise SportInspired – who are part of our social technology programme Nexters – will be partnering with BITC to deliver their inspirational Community Games for children and young people.

Over 200 London children will build confidence, activity levels and life skills through sport in Tower Hamlets (at the Mile End Park Leisure Centre and Play On Sports Indoor Arena), simultaneously with 3,000 other children all over the United Kingdom.

Following four months of local engagement, the Community Games are delivered in partnership by Business in the Community and SportInspired. The Tower Hamlets event is just one of 13 sports festivals across the country that will act as a catalyst to get kids involved in local sport.

SportInspired is a not-for-profit organisation that works tirelessly to empower role models from business and local communities to deliver a special brand of Community Games – multi-sport programmes that enable:

• businesses, that have a purpose beyond profit, to deliver talent, brand and community development goals, and
• schools, public and third sector organisations to improve levels of social cohesion, youth attainment and health.

For more information about the Community Games or general enquiries about SportInspired, visit http://sportinspired.org/public/.

3 days to apply

somewhereto_ one of the Social Technology entrepreneurs involved in our Nexters programme, have unlocked an incredible opportunity for 16-25 years olds to take over Rich Mix in Shoreditch this summer. Please read and share the below post from somewhereto_ for more details.

Amazing space unlocked by somewhereto_

Rich Mix in Shoreditch is opening its doors to young people for a summer takeover! To complete a programme of evening entertainment, Rich Mix is unlocking 6 spaces in the Main Space exclusively for somewhereto_’s young people and their projects throughout August. If you are burning to bring your performance to a large, staged venue in East London this summer then this is the space for you!

Rich Mix will be hosting daytime workshops, classes, master-classes, open rehearsals, seminars and talks – all focused on the artistic genres they programme. This will include art, music, theatre, dance, spoken word, visual arts and film. The aim is to give you the chance to work directly with professional artists and arts organisation, find out more about working in the arts or develop your own events and of course have doing what you love. 

To apply, please send the following details to Hatty at AVGC@somewhereto.org before Thursday May 16^th at 9AM. Please include the following information for Hatty:

Name:

Address:

Email:

Telephone:

Proposal: Please tell us, in no more than 250 words, what you would like to do with the space, what sort of technical assistance you require and why your event would work well as part of Rich Mix’s programme

Successful candidates will be invited to pitch their idea to a panel at Rich Mix on Monday 20^th May, 4-6PM

GOOD LUCK!

Supported by a wide range of partners including Groundwork UK, the Institute of Fundraising, NAVCA, CSV, vInspired, The NHS Federation, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, ACEVO, 21^st Century Legacy and ACOSVO, Britain’s Personal Best will enable everyone in the UK regardless of their age, situation or circumstances to participate.

Britain’s Personal Best builds on the extraordinary social energy unleashed by the Olympics and Paralympics in the summer of 2012.

Our web and mobile platform will enable charities, schools and other civil society organisations to establish campaigns and challenges which enable people to come together to accomplish personal bests which can be athletic, creative, entrepreneurial or education focused.

Britain’s Personal Best has been developed over the past nine months with the support of over one hundred volunteers who have devoted thousands of hours of time freely to help support the bid to BIG.

The first Britain’s Personal Best weekend will take place on 4-6 October 2013.

Chairman of the Society Network Foundation (SNF), Martyn Rose Said:

“Britain’s Personal Best builds on the best of British civil society and our great traditions of public participation and mass engagement. There can be no one in the UK who was untouched or unmoved by the Olympics and Paralympics and the audacity and optimism that helped London and the UK create the greatest Olympics and Paralympics of all time has been a huge inspiration for us and we believe that Britain’s Personal Best will become a fitting and enduring Legacy to the summer of 2012.”

Yorkshire Bank has a strong tradition of supporting the communities in which we live and work.

The Foundation provides funds to help registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, community and other voluntary organisations make life safer, healthier and better for all of us.

Following a recent review the Foundation Trustees are now pleased to launch a new awards programme, The Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank Foundation “Spirit of the Community Awards”. These annual awards replace the previous donation programme which closed in December 2012.

The awards will support projects that advance financial education, improve employability and promote environmental protection or improvement.

Hurry as the deadline is: Friday 12th April

To apply, click the link: http://www.ybonline.co.uk/about-yorkshire-bank/community/charitable-donations-about-us

From: Bridges Ventures – “DNA Profit with Purpose Prize”

The “DNA Profit with Purpose Prize” comprises of an investment of £100K for an equity stake of 10-30% in the winning business, plus ongoing hands-on support and expertise from the Bridges Ventures IMPACT Angels Group as well as the broader Bridges Ventures network of investment professionals, partners and advisors. In addition, the winning business has the potential to secure follow-on investment from Bridges Ventures provided certain milestones are achieved.

The prize offers an unique opportunity for an entrepreneur with the passion for growing a business that can really make a difference to work closely with a group of pioneering entrepreneurs and investors with a track record in backing businesses where strong financial returns and excellent social or environmental impact can go hand-in-hand.

We would like to hear from you if:

• You are a dynamic, charismatic entrepreneur with the passion and experience to make a positive change in the world by building a scalable business that can deliver both attractive financial returns and compelling social or environmental impact.

• Your company is at a stage of development whereby a £100k investment will accelerate its growth by enabling it to achieve significant milestones before attracting future institutional funding.

• Your company is registered and operationally based in the UK, although your company’s impact can be global and beyond the UK.

• To qualify, your company:

  • Has been trading for less than two years and has less than 25 full time employees.

  • Has no more than £200k gross assets immediately before investment

  • Has not previously raised money under the EIS or VCT scheme.

For more information and how to apply please follow the link, http://www.bridgesventures.com/node/734

From: Tech For Good Challenge

The Tech for Good Challenge is looking to invest £500,000 together with mentoring, nurturing and support in 10 early stage ventures that will significantly improve the life chances of young people.



We are looking for social enterprises, charities, businesses and young enterprising teams in England that are harnessing the latest digital technologies to radically transform young people’s lives.

By early-stage, we mean ventures that have already developed a product or service and identified a potential market opportunity that can deliver both financial and social returns. They do not need to have launched in the marketplace but must have evidence of proof of concept.



As for the investment, there are no repayments on the £50,000 loan for the first three years after which Big Issue Invest would have the option of either converting the loan into a 5% equity, or equity-like stake, or ask for repayment of the loan with an accrued interest rate of 5% p.a.


The organisations behind the challenge, offering support and mentoring are Big Issue Invest and Nominet Trust and five corporate partners: Bank of America Merrill Lynch, LDC, MITIE, Salesforce Foundation and Unity Trust Bank. The Challenge is also supported by The Big Lottery.



Apply at http://bigissueinvest-csv.com by 15th April 2013.

From: Richmonds Den 2013 – “Take The Next Step”

Following the success of last year’s competition, budding or growing social entrepreneurs are invited to ‘Take the Next Step’ – all it takes is 500 words to enter.  The winner will walk off with a £10,000 prize package but all entrants will benefit.  Shortlisted entrants will receive tailored support to develop their business ideas; all entrants will be offered support through workshops and other events throughout the year.  

Full details are at www.richmondsden.co.uk  and you can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/richmondsden

Apply by 7th May

We wish you the best of luck!

Out first blog post is from Rajeeb Dey, CEO of Enternships. Rajeeb will be speaking at the upcoming Nexters event at Google Campus. The event will focus on the future importance of social technology entrepreneurs and public services.

Doing Things Differently: How we’re turning employment upside-down

“How are we changing things?” It’s a very important question, and often one that gets lost among the ostensibly more immediate questions of business such as “is what we’re doing working?” and “How can we improve our service?” But at a time when, more than ever it seems, young people need our help to get started in an increasingly unfriendly recruitment world, it’s good to sit back and consider whether what we’re doing might actually make a difference. Luckily, I absolutely think it will.

My mission is – and has always been – to get power to the people who deserve it. When I was 17 it occurred to me that in the school system I inhabited, the students’ point of view was almost entirely absent from the decision making process. I started a social enterprise called Student Voice in order to claim back some power for the students (the ‘customers’ of the system, after all) and it ignited a desire to constantly question where we can break habits of control. It’s this passion that led me to co-found Startup Britain, as well as my own site enternships.com, which centres around rallying student and graduate talent for the benefit of both them and young, innovative companies across the UK.

In my chosen industry – that of student and graduate recruitment – I see the same problem again and again. Though the system is built in order to help young people take their first steps towards a fulfilling career, actually, they have very little control over the options before them. Companies can demand experience, training and a level of prior work that almost no student or graduate can afford, without actually offering the experience they demand. The odds are stacked against students who cannot afford to work for free, who have not had the chances that other, more privileged candidates have had.

This unfair filtering of talent benefits no-one – the companies do not necessarily end up hiring the person that truly fits them best, and the students who most need a first step do not get it. What I want to move towards is a system that turns this idea on its head, a project I’m called ‘unrecruitment’, where the responsibility of training and experience does not fall on our students, but instead lies with the companies wanting fresh and exciting talent. We’re currently working Marketing and Communications experts Havas Worldwide on just such an opportunity, whereby training and insight is actually built into their internship recruitment process, so that every candidate that applies for the role gets some level of useful feedback, training and/or skill-enhancement. We’ve also recently partnered with Wayra – Telephonica’s startup accelerator scheme – to provide 130 paid internships in their most innovative young companies, in an attempt to change the way in which young entrepreneurs think about hiring.

Potential, not experience should be what we look for in our youngest job-seekers; passion, intelligence and a desire to learn – and if we wish for more, then we have to be willing to provide it too. At a time when so many of our most exciting young graduates are struggling to get a foot on the career ladder, we must take a look at the system we have built for them, and question whether we’re doing all we can to make it truly fair. This is the change I want to make, and hope that companies across the UK will join me and the Enternships team in doing something differently; in giving something back to the talent of tomorrow. Not only will it benefit our unemployed youth, but will ensure that our most innovative young companies get access to the people they need to fly higher than ever before.

Rajeeb Dey

Rajeeb Dey is an award-winning entrepreneur and a 2012 World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. He is the founder of Enternships – a platform for students and graduates to find internships and jobs in startups and SMEs. He is also a co-founder of Start Up Britain; the national campaign to inspire, celebrate and accelerate entrepreneurship in Britain run by and for entrepreneurs and supported by HM Government. @rajdey @enternships

The Spirit of the Community Awards has been launched by Yorkshire Bank which will make substantial donations to voluntary groups in each of three categories; education, employability and environment. The aim is to recognise registered charities and not-for-profit groups going the extra mile. 

The awards will be open to a range of organisations right across the third sector who can demonstrate their support for the community. This could include groups promoting access to financial education, helping equip people for the workplace and those focused on protecting and improving the environment.

There will be an overall winning group in each of the three categories which will secure £10,000 of funding, along with three highly commended that will each be awarded £5,000. 

David Thorburn, Chief Executive of Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, said: “The economic environment has been particularly challenging for many not for profit organisations and voluntary groups. Despite increased financial pressures, many continue to provide an invaluable service, often with very little recognition. 

“These awards will recognise the vital support that community organisations provide for thousands of people across the UK.” 

Yorkshire Bank’s sister organisation, Clydesdale Bank, is celebrating its 175^th Anniversary this year and will award £175,000 to local programmes as part of the Spirit of the Community Awards initiative. This brings the total funds available for community groups up and down the country to a quarter of a million pounds. 

Groups wishing to enter should go into their local Yorkshire Bank branch to get an application form, or visit  http://www.ybonline.co.uk/about-yorkshire-bank/community/charitable-donations-about-us

Entries will be until 12th April and winners will be announced in July. 

As a positive psychologist in my spare time (and all the time actually – I can’t escape it!) I’m delighted to see that all 193 member states of the United Nations have given the nod to say that happiness is important. 

I couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen the research and as someone who likes to simplify big messages and who values the importance of getting this ‘scientific research’ away from academics and into the hearts, minds, and hands of all of us – I’m pleased to see the recognition that ‘happiness’ is not just being in a good mood and big smiley faces. In Positive Psychology we discuss the meaning of happiness, and find that sometimes it is not the best way to describe our field, as indeed the term positive psychology itself leads to a longer discussion about what it is and why we need it. People sometimes see happiness, or the discussion of it, as a nice-to-have, something to treat flippantly, a little bit pink, a little bit fluffy. I disagree: happiness is productivity, it is the oil in our engines.

When I started my MSc I thought – surely there cannot be a whole Masters course on ‘applied positive psychology’, not for two years. But then you start to realise that for decades we have looked at people and organisations who are struggling, quite rightly with a view to help. However to balance the study of human nature, you see that it absolutely makes sense to look at people, organisations, groups and communities who are flourishing. Using scientific research to underpin this, we can learn from those who flourish and thrive and see what it is they are doing – and how they are doing it – and to apply that knowledge.

Ultimately we can share those insights and people, organisations and groups can change for the better. Positive psychology is about many things – wellbeing, human strengths, finding meaning, living to your values, finding belonging, helping others, efficacy, resilience, compassion, self-esteem, kindness, empathy… thriving institutions… I can go on and on. There is less empirical research on the collective, and changing the collective for the better. But I don’t get hung up on research as you learn from positive psychology and life in general that there are so many factors that interact and correlate and indeed there are some things that just are… a hunch as it were – like spirituality, and wise words from our elders that still hold true.

You just know that together things are better and that happiness doesn’t come only from the things you have.

March 20^th has been declared as the ‘International Day of Happiness – a day to inspire action for a happier world’ signifying that there is at last a profound shift in attitudes happening right now.

Through my work (and my own research) with social entrepreneurs (the wonderful Nexters) and the brilliant Big Society Award winners I am blessed to encounter, every day, people whose work is dedicated to helping others, to improving society. They each address a range of societal issues, tackling problems that affect their community, working in groups to make things better. Many have been on a personal journey themselves and now wish to bring that learning to help others. Some are running social businesses, others are more one-man-band, individuals who stand up and dedicate their time to helping others and society at large. Even a whole village who decided that they wanted theirs to be the ‘happiest, healthiest village’ dedicated to keeping the Olympic spirit alive are part of this group. Similarities and differences aside – these people and groups have all decided to do something together to make things better. And when you meet them you can’t help but feel a special energy about them.

They certainly love what they do. They are a joy to be around – and it is infectious.   

The focus for International Day of Happiness is on bringing happiness to others. “Creating a happier society requires action at all levels – not just from political leaders and institutions but also from us as individual citizens. When we do things to bring happiness to others, everyone benefits. It helps the people we connect with, boosts our own well-being and also inspires others to be more caring and positive too”.

The Day of Happiness campaign is being led by Action for Happiness and Cheers, in partnership with a network of amazing organisations and people supporting the Day of Happiness all around the world.

I can see the people I am lucky enough to work with doing this everyday… What will you be doing?

Lucy Windmill is Director of External Relations and holds a Master of Science in Applied Positive Psychology 

The Big Society Awards were established to recognise, showcase and connect a broad network of organisations and individuals whose work improves their communities, the lives of others and our society.

Categories:

• Award for outstanding contribution to community
• Award for improving lives and society through innovation, collaboration and new partnerships
• Award for engaging in social action

Nominate here by 17th March

Award Winners receive a plaque and a certificate signed by the Prime Minister, a regional press announcement and an invitation to a Reception at No.10 Downing Street where they will receive special thanks from the Prime Minister.

Winners are invited to attend a practical networking and support event with other winners, where they will hear inspiring stories, share their own, meet Government officials and other partners, and join a network of likeminded and supportive others. The Awards Celebration Day is held twice a year to celebrate the great accomplishments of our Award Winners with a focus on networking and knowledge sharing. Please see the last event - Wednesday 28^th November.

Follow @thebigsociety, #bigsocawards for more news.

‘STAK lives and breathes “big society” so winning this award is an honour. It absolutely reflects the message that we try to portray in everything we do: this is our community, our society, and as a society we have a duty to help those who are unable to help themselves effectively.’ St Austell Community Centre

‘As the first organisation in Wales to receive a Big Society Award, the acknowledgement has been great for Creation’s profile. Recognition from the Prime Minister means we are taken more seriously when promoting our training and consultancy services, helping us to generate new income streams.’ Creation Development Trust

We look forward to hearing from you!

I studied Politics at university and was always amazed that women generally only ever made up 50% of the classroom if the module was about aid or development. The rest of the time we were outnumbered by something like 20:1. I noticed that some of the male members of the class would talk down to me, or try and over simplify a point they were making, so little me would understand their extremely complicated argument. I was also extremely aware that the people I was learning about, the global leaders, the presidents, the diplomats were all overwhelmingly male. I thought that we already had gender equality, but I had never bothered to look at the statistics.

I then stumbled upon stories about women in Bangladesh joining together and getting Micro loans in order to start their own farms and, sing it with me, doing it for themselves. I read stories about women who joined together and successfully defended their land against deforestation and unwanted development. And, most recently, about the story of Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan. Women can be incredibly powerful. Both when they work together and when they make a stand.

Since then I have been an active campaigner, working with and raising money for Oxfam, Action Aid and Cancer Research. Working on issues that both women on the other side of the world and women right here in London, fight for. But I wanted to do more and I wanted to make it easier for other people to do more too.

Then I found out about fairsharemusic.com. Music had always been a passion, but no one really gets a job in the music industry right? Complete pipe dream. But I emailed them anyway begging for a job and two years later I now run the office!

Fairsharemusic.com is a music download store with a twist. For everything you buy, they’ll donate 50% of their profit to charities like Oxfam, War Child and Amnesty International. They make it incredibly simple for people who wouldn’t normally donate to charity to support causes, because it doesn’t cost them anything. Buying one 99p track means a donation of 4p to charity too. Not much right? Then add all those 4ps together. Last week Justin Timberlake sold 85,000 singles. If each single had been bought from fairsharemusic they could have also raised £3,400 for charity. It’s a very easy switch to make, just changing where you download music from, but it can make profound difference when we all join together.

I’ll be celebrating International Women’s day with my friends in an Oxfam Get Together – donating money to our ‘Sweet Jar’ every time we eat or drink anything sweet over the weekend. We don’t have to change the world on our own. If we join together and just do a little something, we can make a difference, and we can have quite a lot of fun along the way. That’s what International Women’s day is for.

Charli Hitch is General Manager from Fairsharemusic