We’re delighted to welcome two new members to the team; namely Jo Laker, our new Fundraising Manager and Barbara Howland, our new Grants Administrator.

This gives us a more focused approach to fundraising and communications and gives us more potential for more events, more fundraising, developing social media and the opportunity to tell you more about what, how and why we do what we do.

For more information on all the members of The Body Shop Foundation team, check out http://thebodyshopfoundation.org/what-we-do/meet-the-team/.

We gave them £10,000 through our Local Community Grants Programme to enhance their IT systems, including their online booking system.  Its this online booking system which enables the personalisation of the scheme and will help them move to being a paperless organisation.  Well, they’ve only gone and done it and we’re delighted to link to their new website which we happen to think is rather wonderful – click here to have a look: http://www.crossroadscare-sc.org

Top work guys!

Our intrepid adventures/trekkers/fundraisers arrived at Ouarzazte, Morroco late on Saturday 25 Feburary to start the over 100 km in aid of WaterAid.

Day 1 saw a journey into the Sahara, followed by a 2 hour training walk to the first camp to give the trekkers a ‘taste’ of what lie ahead over the next 5 days.  This morning saw the challenge start in earnest, with a 6.00 am start and a gruelling, exhausting 17 km walk in blistering heat over sand and dry river bed.

We’ve got a regular news feed happening on our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/thebodyshopfoundation - check out their photos, achievements, thoughts and feedback from the desert and join us celebrating this incredible team of truly remarkable people.

The profits from this challenge will go towards WaterAid’s Zambian projects, providing access to clean water for communities for the first time.  Its an incredible challenge for an incredible cause and they need as much support as possible!  Join our group and join the activities this week!

We’re humbled by how much help and support there has been: to all at The Body Shop International, the suppliers of the company, all the staff, departments, team and all the trekkers friends and families – a heartfelt thanks.

Check out what some of our trekkers are thinking and feeling, their fundraising tips and also why they are doing it in a series of short videos.  Click on the link at www.facebook.com/thebodyshopfoundation for their updates.

Between us all, we’ll change lives and communities forever. Thank you for your part in it.

As requested, pleasase find below the list of winners – all of which should have been contacted by now.

If you still haven’t managed to pick up your prize, please contact Tracy Lees or 01903 731500 or Tracy.Lees@thebodyshop.com to arrange pick up.

Thank you!

• Christmas Bouquet from Sweetpeas Florist – Mary Bye
• 2 x full 12 month memberships to the Gourmet Society  – Anthony Coston & Sue from the Care Centre
• £150.00 of bike vouchers from Cycle Solutions – Jocelyn O’Neil
• £100 Red Letter Day Experience from Team Rewards – Hazel
• L’Oreal VIP goody bag – Gemma Burdfield
• 2 tickets to Holiday on Ice at Brighton – D Carter
• Two night’s accommodation for two at The White Swan Hotel, Arundel – Helen Blizzard
• Overnight accommodation & dinner at Baliffscourt Hotel – Jeannie Smith
• Dinner, Bed and Breakfast for two at the Deve Grand Hotel, Brighton – Jane Perry
• Overnight accommodation  & breakfast at Goodwood, Chichester – Carly Kneller
• 10 handmade Christmas cards – Iain Rubli ?????
• Fruit Basket – Tracy Carrick
• Chutney selection from Funky.Chutney – Marta Santos
• 2 x Body Shop Hamper – Cathryn Barty & Charlotte Lamb
• Body Shop advent calendar filled with product – Aldingbourne Trust, Stephen
• £20 Capital Bond voucher – Nicole Savage
• Dinner for two at the Seattle Hotel, Brighton – Kim
• Bottle of champagne – Mulcock
• Year’s worth of L’Oreal Spray tan – Peto
• Dinner at The Bermondsey Square Hotel, London – £75.00 – Sue Blaney
• 1 weeks worth of free lunches in the Diner – Catherine Borland
• 10 free hot drinks from the Diner – Simon Ramskill
• Extra Large Carte Blanche Teddy – Chris McLarnon
• Shellac Manicure and removal, worth £20 – Zara O’Sullivan
• Bespoke Body Shop Products! – Helen Bridge
• Bottle of champagne – Emma from the Diner
• Semi-permanent eyelash extensions worth £40.00 – Laura Cheal

And you know by now, we like to really get to know our intrepid trekkers so we tried to find out a little more about Mark with the 10 questions we ask absolutely EVERYONE…..

Apart from your home and car, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought? A Retirement Home in Hull, UK (don’t ask why!) I also bought a very expensive watch in Malaysia because I miscalculated the exchange rate (at least it was not fake)

What’s been the most embarrassing moment of your life? When I was really young my friend and  I was trying to entertain a crowd of insurance company employees for their annual x-mas party, they were very drunk took over the scene and did very naughty things on the stage

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be? If every color, religion and part of the world could be more respectful of each other and a bit more humble that would be great start

If you were invisible for a day, what would be the first thing you’d do? I would sneak into Ikea’s Exec Committee’s full day brain storm event and be a fly on the wall

If you had a pound to give to charity, which collection tin would you pop it in? Hope Now, a small grass root charity organization working in Denmark on the streets, supporting trafficked women and victims of prostitution

When was the last time you cried? I mostly cry laughing as it happens, on a serious note I did have tears in my eyes when I saw a picture of my good colleagues’ baby girl in her arm – she was born 2 months early and had a lot of tubes attached to her…

Who did you last receive a text from and what did it say? It was from Xavier Vidal saying: No, you are not going to get that pay raise, I already told you…honestly looking at my phone it was from a lady named Linda Thorslund from the United Nation Foundation in Sweden, saying that she would meet me in 2 minutes!

If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to? Never thought about that, but my favorite name for my son that I never had (but two girls instead) was Sixten (Old Swedish name), so that is going to be it

What is your favourite thing about The Body Shop Foundation? That you locally through nomination and market board representation can have a direct impact on which organization The Body Shop Foundation can support.

What one skill or talent do you have that no-one knows about? I can light a camp fire in no-time!

If you agree with us that Mark is a bit of star and needs supporting with his fundraising, please dig deep in your pockets and donate via his Just Giving website by clicking on the following link : http://www.justgiving.com/Mark-Hermann

We are able to support these small – but vital – community funds through a number of initatives, thanks in large part to the company donation and the income generated by our Fundraising Team.

Demand for our support and help has never been more pressing, due to the current global economic climate. To meet this growing demand, we are refocusing our structure and set up to expand our services and initatives – making an impact on even more lives.

At this pivotal moment in our history we are seeking to strengthen our services by recruiting two people who will add real value. We are looking for exceptional applicants with a proven record of skills & achievement for the following roles:

• Fundraising Manager – Full Time Position :  Job Description & Person Specifications here -fundraising-manager-uk-dec-2011 & person-spec-fundraising-fr-manager
• CV with a covering letter to Lisa Jackson, Chief Executive. The Body Shop Foundation, Watersmead, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 6LS.  Closing date – 31 December 2011.  First interviews will be held on 11 Jan 2012 and second interviews will be held on 17 Jan 2012.

• Grants Administator – Part Time Position: 1 year contract, start date approx 1 March 2012: Job Descrption & Person Specification here - grants-administrator-1-2012 & person-spec-grants-administrator-feb-2011
  
• CV with a covering letter to Debbie Osborne, Grants Manager, The Body Shop Foundation, Watersmead, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 6LS.  Closing date – 7 January 2012.  Interviews will be held on 7 February 2012.

‘Information’ because it is jam packed full of facts and stats about the impact and success of the grants awarded over the last financial year.  We really have changed lives and habitats.

‘Pleasure’ because it is thanks in large part to your contribution that we have enjoyed such success over the past year.  There are so many factors to this success; the company donation, direction from the trustees,  staff nominations, administering the programmes, our Zone Panels deciding on grants, selling of products through the fundraising avenues to bring in more income and every volunteering opportunity that was co-ordinated to bring in more assistance – they all add up and have given us a report and a year to be collectively proud of.

We are a truly global Foundation, finding and funding some wonderful small global groups and projects with your help – thank you all so much for your continued support and enthusiasm.

Please take some time to look through this report and bask in its success – you all thoroughly deserve it!

Since 1990, we’ve funded over 2,500 projects around the world, donating just over £18.3 million.

We look for groups with enthusiasm, energy and drive, who work at grassroots level. These projects – however dynamic – sometimes get overlooked. Sometimes – because of the unfamiliar or pioneering nature of their work – conventional funding is hard for them to get.

To us though, being different and daring deserves to be recognised. We look for progressive charities and groups which fall within our remit and invite them to apply for funds.

We’re proud of the groups we support and the difference they make to thousands upon thousands of lives and habitats around the world.

In order to find and fund these innovative projects, we have a committee of driven, experienced, passionate Trustees who agree the funding remit for the year ahead and meet twice yearly to award grants and apply the strategic direction.  Our Board of Trustees is a combination of staff from The Body Shop International and external trustees – all of whom have a special skills set to help move us forward.

Our Board Meetings are conducted at either London or Littlehampton, West Sussex.

We currently have TWO opportunities available to join this Board; we are looking for a new Trustee and also a Chair of Trustees (please see Job Descriptions attached for both roles).  If you are interested in either of these roles, please apply in the first instance with a CV and covering letter to Lisa Jackson, Chief Executive at lisa.jackson@thebodyshop.com.

Closing date for both these opportunities is 31 December 2011 at 5.00pm.  Expected interview dates are 23-25 January 2012

Job Description (Chair of Trustees) – please click attached link: job-description-for-chair-of-trustees

Job Description (Trustee) – please click attached link : job-description-for-a-trustee

Any further questions or queries, please contact Lisa Jackson, Chief Executive, in the office on 01903 844039.

STET aims to educate and train young people in vital work and life skills, by arranging work experience placements.    We are thrilled to announce that at the inaugural Camden & Islington Business Awards, STET won “Charity/Social Enterprise of the Year” award.

STET have helped over 250 individuals to gain vocational qualifications and get into work – including young people who left school without qualifications, homeless people, ex-offenders and people living with mental health problems.

STET, we salute you!

For more information on this group, please visit them at http://southerntaskeducationaltrust.org/