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After the success of the mowerthon, it's had me thinking, can this be a stepping stone onto organising and completing other charity events. With maybe a selection of other charity's selected so we can help a wider audience as well as the one selected for the mowerthon.I am not trying to stop LJN helping perennial and all their good hard work, but maybe it would be good to help others too, IF this Is possible.I found this charity, which I must say I am very impressed with, as well as perennial.http://www.greenfingerscharity.org.ukI am not sure if helping other charity's is possible (with all the work involved in organising events and fund raising) but I'd love to know your thoughts.

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  • My own opinion is that I prefer to help people that I can contact directly rather than go through a charity. The reason for this is that you have to raise a heck of a lot of money just to pay the staff that work for the charity before anything actually goes to those in need.

    I have a couple of guys in my area who I have put a bit of effort and money into, plus family and friends in need. This is where my charity giving goes.

    All I am saying is that great caution must be taken when choosing which formal charity to support. We have all heard stories of boozy parties and first class flights involving staff using funds of national charities!

  • Good point dan. Thanks for highlighting it. Wouldn't have there been risks though when phil chose perennial to support?
  • Here's one I got via linked in:

    Re Show Garden Competition. at West Woodhay House Garden Show.
    (Similar applies to Little Bentley Hall Waterways & Garden Show 1-2 June)

    I am writing in the hopes that you may be interested in entering the Show Garden Competition at West Woodhay House Garden Show from 14th-16th June 2013. This show last held in 2011 in these beautiful private gardens outside Newbury raised over £65,000 for local charities and we hope we can repeat this again next year. The charities next year include ABF the Soldiers Charity, Newbury Spring Festival, Newbury Show Educational Trust, Rotary Charities and the local churches.  The Show starts on Friday 14th June with a Gala Preview Evening for around 900 guests when we hope to have a British Army Band Beating Retreat on the lawns, and the Public days are on  Saturday & Sunday.

    We are offering all Entrants a £300 contribution towards their costs of creating this Show Garden, as well as allowing you to get additional sponsorship from other sources that you may advertise on your Garden.

    We have also decided not to offer a BRIEF for next years Show Gardens as we would prefer to give you complete freedom to interpret the subject which is

    ‘Bold and Brilliant'

    This year's theme for show gardens can be interpreted as you like - maybe in primary-coloured flowers contrasting with soothing ice-cold water, or by using unusual eye-catching hard materials, or a combination of anything you like as long as it is really vibrant and bright! It can borrow the surrounding landscape or be a self-contained small garden. But let's see some bold colours and brilliant ideas!
    In the New Year you are very welcome to come and look at the Garden and the proposed site for the Show Gardens, and also to discuss with Pete the Head Gardener access arrangements for setting up your Garden, which can be done up to around 4-5 weeks before the show if you wish.

    I do hope you may agree to enter this Competition next Summer as we would love to have you in this magnificent setting.
    West Woodhay House Gardens are reputed  as being ‘ One of the finest Private Gardens in the Thames Valley ‘.                   

    I have pointed out that this is a big ask for the average designer/ contractor.  Might be something that LJN  could put together a consortium of suppliers and contractors.

    The Thread is here in the Hort Week group:

    http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=3904272&item=17...

  • After 20 years of being involved with Perennial  (and under its previous name Gardeners Royal Benevolent Society ) for 20 years on a voluntary basis. I have seen the move to full time professional case workers and watched the charity help a much wider and diverse clientele covering all aspects of horticulture.

    With the ever changing benefit system and mounting debt problems for working people it would be very difficult for an individual to understand or even access the services needed to help. Attending a recent Policy and Services committee meeting I noted that none of the persons seeking help were retired and most had  school age children - a scary thought.

    Can I assure all LJN members that the trustees and members of the commitees of Perennial serve on a voluntary basis , many are from the horticulture industry and keep a very tight rein on what and how the funds are spent

  • Nicholas some good reassuring words. It's an institutional thing, the right attitude is needed and people who care deeply about the charity rather than simply viewing it as a job.

    Best of luck going forwards and may many feel the benefits from the support you give.

  • Thanks Dan as you can guess this is one of my passions and I see first hand some of the real problems suffered by people in our industry through no fault of their own but on the plus side see how they are helped by the hardworking and caring staff of Perennial

    Lets hope not many reading this will have to call on them

  • Has anyone got any ideas on future ways to help charity? It doesn't have to be a new charity, or anything like that.
    I did hear phil mention on his mowerthon that he would like to challenge Bali and apl to a mowerthon type event next year.
    Now that would be something special!!
  • Rowly I think you've only gone and bloody thought of it already! Great idea. Gary RK would love that!
  • PRO
    I know this is not the same as organising a fundraising event like mowerthon but we support our local cancer hospice by donating about half an hour every fortnight to cut the lawns around the grounds.

    This is Appreciated just as much as any money contribution as we save them money.

    Although not the reason we do it we do gain work from other sources which cover our costs of the voluntary work.
  • PRO

    Great for bringing that up, Martyn...allows everyone to contribute in their own way and support local concerns. We do something similar as a result of a personal situation. Its a good way to give something back.

    Steve, I like that idea....:-) Best get some practice in at the Kart track .......Mhh.....can I get our Etesia to run on a 5% Nitro Methanol mix :D

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