16 February 2012
From Fire Power to Flour Power, veteran's artisan bakery launched in Catterick.
The SPECIALIST training bakery designed to give war veterans new employment skills to help them adapt to civilian life was officially opened by celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager and Cause UK yesterday.
Based next to Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, the facility will not only help veterans develop employable skills within the baking and catering industries, but will also use bread-making as therapy.
The artisan bakery has been set up as a social enterprise and will provide qualifications to equip those suffering from post-traumatic stress or facing homelessness with new career and business development skills.
Ms Shrager said: “I’m passionate when it comes to teaching about food and so it is such an honour to launch an initiative in an environment where artisan baking may not be the first thing people think of when they think of the military. It shows how something as simple but valuable as baking can transform vulnerable lives.”
The bakery is being run by Riverside housing association and is based at its new centre, The Beacon, which provides temporary housing, training and specialist support to ex-servicemen and women who are at risk of homelessness.
It is being run in partnership with Clervaux Trust, which runs a similar artisan bakery in Darlington.
A high-profile campaign to raise funds was launched at Harewood House, near Leeds, with celebrity chef Marco Pierre White last October. The Hesco Bastion Fund, set up by the late Jimi Heselden, also donated substantial funds to establish the bakery.
25 January 2012
KEY FUND UNLOCKS MORAL CAPITALISM VISION
The Sheffield-based Key Fund, which is itself a social enterprise, is celebrating investing £15m to social enterprises in ten years, with 2011 a record year with investments significantly eclipsing previous years. It has been nurturing other social enterprise schemes for over a decade, leading the way on the Government’s recent push for ‘moral capitalism’.
Doncaster Refurnish has recently received a £50,000 loan and a £2,000 grant from the Key Fund to support the opening of a new furniture retail outlet in Wath. The social enterprise has received a total £400k investment from the Key Fund over the last ten years.
The furniture recycling scheme reduces landfill by collecting unwanted household furniture, which is then repaired and sold at affordable prices to people on low incomes.
CEO of The Key Fund, Ann Oldroyd, said: “We’ve bucked the trend at a time when there’s a huge and increasing barrier to finance in the current economic climate, some of the banks just aren’t lending. Yet we’ve given out loans and investments to more enterprises than ever before.”
Based in Yorkshire and supporting projects across the north of England, the success of The Key Fund has seen its importance grow at a national level. The Fund invests in community asset building developments, renewable energy schemes, community buy-outs or buy-ins, management and employee buy-outs, low carbon initiatives and public service delivery, including health and social care.
Another one of its many success stories includes the George and Dragon pub in the village of Hudswell, Richmondshire. The Key Fund helped 80 villagers to create The Hudswell Community Pub Limited co-operative, a model that has inspired similar initiatives across the UK. The local co-operatives turn dying pubs into ‘community hubs’ with add-on facilities such as shops, library services or even health clinics.
Ms Oldroyd said: “The community owned pubs are a fantastic example of social enterprise in action. Not only do they provide a social venue for local people, they generate employment and volunteering opportunities as well as renewed economic activity. Community backed businesses are proving resilient in the current economic climate.”
Another Key Fund success is SoccerCity Leeds, which provides access to sports and coaching for people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds and genders. Chapeltown Baths also benefited after it was threatened with closure and a community-led bid was developed by residents and users to take over the facility to develop it into the vibrant centre it is today.
Ms Oldroyd said: “The ethos of The Key Fund ties in with Nick Clegg’s recent push for a ‘John Lewis’ style economy to drive productivity and growth. Responsible capitalism is something we’ve been practicing for years in the North. It’s timely to recognise that ethically-driven business can be resilient and successful business models.”
The Key Fund offers innovative finance solutions in the form of grants, loans and equity packages to voluntary and community organisations, charities, co-operatives, social entrepreneurs and social enterprises.
In total, over 12 years, the Key Fund has supported 2,000 organisations, aiding 6,500 training opportunities, enabling 175 new business start-ups, and the creation or safeguarding of 1,822 jobs.
Ms Oldroyd added: “We only fund organisations where profit isn’t the bottom line. And we only fund those who have been turned down by the banks. It is, on paper, high risk, but the default rate on our investments is very low. That’s due in part to the fact that we practice the principles of classic relationship banking, but the key lesson is that these enterprises are not just about the bottom line, they are driven by people with commitment and passion. That’s why they succeed.”
Ms Oldroyd added: “Social enterprises, charities, community groups and voluntary organisations have a significant role to play in providing better public services and improving the lives of the most disadvantaged in society. They also have a pivotal role in generating meaningful jobs and volunteering opportunities. And yet it’s these organisations that struggle the most to raise finance from mainstream providers such as banks and building societies. We’re incredibly proud of unlocking so much success to date, and we have a lot more to invest.”
Refurnish also received grant support from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for the Wath outlet. Andy Simpson, CEO of Refurnish, said: “When I was turned down by the bank, it really highlighted the reason for the Key Fund to exist and it showed that the Key Fund has a very competitive advantage. They are fast and efficient at turning around the deals and more important, truly understand our sector.”
Picture caption: Ann Oldroyd, CEO of The Key Fund, with Andy Simpson, CEO of Refurnish
Help Spread the Warmth
06 January 2012
There is too much loneliness, isolation and cold for our elders. Help Spread the Warmth and raise money for Age UK by taking part in Age UK's 10K run at Harewood House. Enter here.
Happy Christmas
16 December 2011
A dog like a good cause is not just for christmas. Love Teddy and the Cause team.
CAUSE UK launches campaign to save Ilkley Moor Baht 'at
13 December 2011
Cause UK's campaign to save Ilkley Moor Baht'at featured on The One Show today. Congratulations to the Otley Brass Band and all the children and teachers involved.
21 November 2011
Cause Director, Mark Dexter achieved fabulous coverage last week in The Telegraph, front page of The Yorkshire Post and an interview with John Humphries on the Today programme to help save Yorkshire's anthem, 'Ilkley Moor Baht'at.' With less than 10% of Yorkshire's school children knowing the song. Cause UK has joined forces with the Otley Brass Band to help save a vital piece of Yorkshire heritage. The Cause team will be fundraising to ensure that Yorkshire's kids know the song and encourage our youngster's to take up brass band playing.
Read more here:
The Telegrapgh
The Yorkshire Post
Video: Marco Pierre White cooks up support for soldiers at Catterick
6 October
Marco cooks up valuable support for veterans
5 October 2011
Celebrity chef, Marco Pierre White, lends his support to the Veteran's Artisan Bakery at Catterick, a social enterprise to help vulnerable soldiers. At a launch today;
Marco said “I’ve flown to Iraq and Afghanistan to cook for the troops on Christmas Day, and it’s always a privilege. I strongly believe we all have a duty to support our soldiers and that duty of care shouldn’t stop on their return home. I once said that my kitchens are like The French Foreign Legion. In the past, I’ve done projects working with troubled youths who turn their lives around. I feel passionate about the morality and value of working hard and the stabiliser of routine to help ground people. And there’s nothing more beautiful and honest than making a decent loaf of bread or good espresso. This bakery is a way to bring people together and work for a common cause. The veterans deserve this opportunity - I know how tough it is - my visits to the frontline have been truly life-changing experiences. I have nothing but respect for the soldiers who served there and I am honoured to support a valuable project like this. So let’s break bread and salute these great people.”
It's a Family Affair, 05 September 2011
Ann (sister to Clair) works as an Account Manager at the award-winning Cicada Communications and spends one day a week dedicated to Cause. She has a colourful background as a feature writer – her first journalism job was as editor of the Alderney Journal, a job she describes as ‘like being parachuted into a bizarre film set’ (think The Wicker Man). From there she went on to be feature writer on the Guernsey Press writing about topics as diverse as the war in Iraq to the art of washing up, before joining the Lancashire Telegraph writing theatre, TV reviews, profiles, the Women’s Page and background news features.
Described by her tutor at City University as ‘an innate journalist’, Ann also has experience as an SEO copywriter and is a regular copywriter for the Harrogate International Festivals portfolio, writing website and marketing copy and news and features. Ann’s polished writing skills add a valuable dimension to the Cause team.
The Veterans Artisan Bakery at Catterick
Read Yorkshire Post Coverage 05 August 2011
Cause UK has been commissioned by The Clervaux Trust to raise money to kick start a new social enterprise for an artisan bakery and cafe at Catterick in North Yorkshire, to help retrain and build the confidence of veterans who are vulnerable to homelessness or combat stress.
The project will provide vocational training and accredited qualifications to Veterans. The head baker will be responsible for delivering training and managing the commercial bakery.
It is expected that over time, some Veterans will be fully trained as Artisan bakers. This will allow them to go on to gain employment or set up their own business.
The bakery will serve the local community of Catterick with delicious sandwiches and patisseries and will be run as a social enterprise at The Beacon building at Catterick Garrison.
Cause UK Podcast Yorkshire Post Business Talk 26 July 2011
Cause UK views on The Big Society in The Yorkshire Post 'Business Talk' Podcast.
New Business Launch 18 July 2011
Cause (UK) Limited, a new ethically-motivated business, has been launched this week to meet the niche needs of charities. The business specialises in providing cost-effective fundraising and marketing services to charities, corporate social responsibility teams and social enterprises.
Clair Challenor-Chadwick, 37, Director of Cause said: “As the Third Sector experiences an increasing period of instability, redundancies and restructuring, I decided to formally launch my new website www.cause.uk.com and business this week. In today’s environment fundraising and marketing is more important than ever before. And this is where Cause can help. We deliver outcomes in a shorter time-frame guaranteed to be cheaper than a fully employed member of staff, with an average cost to income ratio of 1:6.”
Cause aims to cut charities’ costs and de-risks charitable expenditure. Miss Challenor-Chadwick said: “The aim is to allow organisations to spend more time and energy on the important work they do.”
The business specialises in marketing, event management, legacy-fundraising, bid-writing and PR, in essence offering an outsourced marketing and fundraising department, without the charity incurring NIC expenses, recruitment costs and other associated ‘on-costs’.
Miss Challenor-Chadwick added: "I'm a strong believer in using business acumen to make charities flatter and more efficient. I launched Cause because ultimately everyone can feel impassioned about a just cause but can get frustrated at the expensive running costs many charities incur."
A graduate of the University of Warwick and University of California, San Diego, Miss Challenor-Chadwick worked in the City for Cater Allen Private Bank and Evolution Consulting before becoming responsible for TK Maxx’s dynamic Corporate Social Responsibility programme. She then spent six years at Action for Children (formerly NCH). More recently she was responsible for raising more than £6m per annum as the Head of Marketing and Fundraising for Yorkshire Cancer Research.
Her current client lists includes, The Haven, breast cancer support services, Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, Donna’s Dream House, who deliver respite holidays for terminally ill children in Blackpool and The Clervaux Trust, who work with some of the most disadvantaged and disenfranchised young people in the North East.
In recent months, Cause has achieved high profile media coverage on local TV news, Yorkshire-wide press and national exposure in The Daily Telegraph and Hello magazine for clients. This year projects have included working with celebrities such as Marco Pierre White, Germaine Greer, Bill Oddie, Gok Wan and Tony Blair to raise awareness and funds for charity clients.
Cause also works with corporate responsibility teams linking corporate giving to worthy charities to secure efficiency and brand protection whilst ensuring maximum PR outcomes. In a similar capacity, CAUSE works with philanthropists matching their charitable objectives to worthy beneficiaries.
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The Key Fund 
