Every so often we like to shine the spotlight on our members, and in this case one of the members of the West of England Initiative. We sat down with Emma Hildesley, Community Fundraising Manager, and Lily Beynon, Corporate Partnerships Executive at NSPCC South West to talk about their life at NSPCC and their relationship with the West of England Initiative.
Business West: Tell us about your role at NSPCC South West – what do you have responsibility for? What does a typical day look like?
Emma Hildesley: I am the Community Fundraising Manager for Bristol, Bath, North Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire: supporting volunteers and supporters across this patch holding events and fundraising activities - whether they are Branch and District committee groups, Individuals, small businesses or clubs and associations. If anyone wants to support the NSPCC, I'll be there to support them.
My role brings our volunteers together from across communities and the aim is to bring together our communities from across different generations and cultures within our fantastically diverse city of Bristol. We are an organisation working hard at promoting equality, diversity and inclusion through our services, campaigns, and volunteering opportunities.
No two days are the same at NSPCC, therefore there’s no “typical day”, however this is what makes it an exciting and enjoyable role. A Community Fundraiser wears many hats – one minute you’re filling in as the bingo caller at a volunteer’s event, next you are pitching at a major stakeholder meeting! It’s a challenging role, not just because it’s so varied but fundraisers have high targets which rely heavily on relationship management and the good will of people. As we know, it’s a tough economic climate now and everyone is under immense pressure. However, we must keep going to ensure children continue to get the help they always need.
Lily Beynon: I am a Corporate Partnerships Executive in the NSPCC’s Regional Corporate Partnerships team. My role includes supporting the acquisition and delivery of long-term charitable partnerships across the South West. The main focus of my role is working with businesses across the South West to create bespoke partnerships which are tailored towards the business CSR goals and objectives. This could include developing a partnership aimed at engaging staff through corporate volunteering programmes and fundraising events or creating a strategic partnership which seeks to create long-term societal change within the community through educating the business’s staff and customers in safeguarding.
In my role, no two days are the same. My typical day could include supporting our existing corporate partners in organising an upcoming fundraising incentive, meeting with a new prospect to understand their CSR aims and objectives and discussing how the NSPCC could support them, organising an engagement and networking event such as our CSR Breakfast for our corporate partners to attend or attending a mass participation event such as the London Marathon to cheer on our incredible Team NSPCC runners.
BW: What does your organisation do? Why do you like working for them? (You can include how many people you employ, the role you play across the city etc.)
Emma: Everything we do protects children today and prevents abuse tomorrow, to transform society for every childhood. Moving quickly as coronavirus restrictions were put in place, we have adapted NSPCC services to remain at the forefront of child protection, ensuring that children and adults can still reach us with their worries and concerns. However, we remain dependant on voluntary donations for almost 90% of our income and we hope you will consider supporting the important services we offer to children and young people in Bristol. In 21/22 we worked with approximately 10,386 number of children across Bristol through various services.
What gets me out of bed every morning? Hand on heart - working together with enthusiastic people and generating some exciting activities that will make such a difference to children's lives! This is a fabulous area within the South West. NSPCC has been working in Bristol since 1885 when our Volunteer Branch Committee formed just after the charity itself was established. Bristol Branch and the wider community has been there for children and at the heart of all our work ever since. I feel honoured to look after the NSPCC's wonderful volunteers and supporters here, especially given we have such a huge legacy across Bristol.
Lily: The NSPCC is the leading children's charity fighting to end child abuse and neglect in the UK. We are a national charity supporting children and families at a local level in every community. Everything we do protects children today and prevents abuse tomorrow; transforming society to make it safer for every childhood. Last year there were 653 sexual offences against children under the age of 16 recorded by police in Somerset. Unfortunately, many children who suffer abuse do not realise what’s happening to them is wrong, or they’re too scared to speak out. We estimate that for every child who comes forward to disclose abuse, a further eight children are suffering in silence.
We work tirelessly to fight for every childhood. We work across the region to ensure all children in Bristol and beyond are safe. We prevent abuse from happening through pioneering community projects and our work in schools, including our Speak out, Stay safe workshops, where we visit primary schools across the country to help children recognise the signs of abuse and understand where to go for help. There are 135 primary schools in the Bristol area. Since the NSPCC Schools Service first began in 2011 until 31st July 2022, we are delighted to have visited 89% of them (at least once) and are working hard to reach the remaining schools as well as revisiting schools.
We protect children at risk with Childline and our NSPCC helpline. Childline is a confidential 24-hour service that gives children somewhere to turn. On average we receive a call every 25 seconds from a child who needs our help. Like childline, the NSPCC helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with trained practitioners who speak a number of languages. While we are doing everything we can to empower children to speak out against abuse, we all have a role to play in keeping them safe. The helpline exists so that adults can seek advice and take action when they are worried that something is wrong.
We transform society and help to rebuild the lives of children who have been abused. Through our UK-wide network of service hubs, specially our South West regional hub in Swindon, we deliver therapeutic services to enable children to move on from abuse, as well as provide resources and support for parents and families around caring for their children. Without the right support, abuse can affect a child’s life for years to come. But it doesn’t have to be this way. If a child gets the right support at the right time, they can rebuild their life. Abuse doesn’t have to shape their future.
Working for the NSPCC is an absolute privilege. My favourite part of the role is being able to see the tangible difference we are making to the lives of children in Bristol and the South West, whist also being able to see the impact that our charitable partnerships have on company culture and employee engagement.
BW: Why have you joined the Bristol Initiative?
Emma: It’s an absolutely pleasure to have joined the Bristol Initiative and see the opportunity to raise the profile of the NSPCC, the legacy we hold within this incredible city, and to collaborate with others on our current and future work. We wish to align ourselves with other organisations, groups and individuals that share the same values as us. We want to strengthen the voice of our collective Bristol community and aim to bring all communities together to ensure Bristol is a safe place for children.
Lily: We are delighted to have joined the Bristol Initiative for the opportunity to engage with like-minded businesses with the shared passion and pride of Bristol and the South West. I truly believe businesses have both the power and responsibility to promote positive change in the society in which they operate in. I hope that by joining the Bristol Initiative we can collaborate with Bristol Initiative members to create meaningful, mutually-beneficial partnerships with the ultimate goal of giving back to society and supporting the lives of children and young people in Bristol. Together we can ensure all children in Bristol have the safe and happy childhood they deserve.
BW: What are the key agendas that you’re looking forward to getting involved with?
Lily: We are mostly looking forward to getting involved with agendas regarding Corporate Social Responsibility, Responsible business, social impact, and employee engagement.
Emma: As well as agenda’s regarding Corporate Social Responsibility, social impact and employee engagement – we are looking forward to any opportunities revolving around education, inclusion and networking with community stakeholders.
BW: Where is your favourite place to visit in Bristol?
Lily: My favourite place in Bristol would have to be the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Whenever I think of Bristol the striking image of the bridge comes straight into my mind. Growing up, my parents took great pride in telling me that I was driven over Clifton Suspension Bridge when I was just hours old. I was driven across the bridge on my way home to Weston-Super-Mare, after being born in St Michaels hospital. The bridge reminds me of the sense of pride I have in being born and raised in such an incredible city.
Emma: I have two favourite places in Bristol - St Nick’s market and the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge. I didn’t grow up locally, but I remember visiting for the first time when I was 16 with one of my oldest friends, we came for a Banksy Exhibition. I remember we both stood on The Downs, overlooking the bridge, and said to each other “one day we will live and work here. We both agreed it was the most amazing place. 5 years later I was living and studying in Bath and took the train over to Bristol for the first time since that day for some work. I explored St Nicks and the Old City and feel in love with the vibrancy and “chilled” vibe of the place. My friend followed a couple of years after that and now lives in Clifton and works for a tech company in the city centre. Although we both took separate and winding journeys to get here, Bristol stayed in our hearts.
If you are a member of a Business West Chamber of Commerce and would like to be featured in a blog just like this one then you can get in touch. You can find out more about the NSPCC, and the work they do, at their website: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
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