Jewellery with a Heart

Those behind the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital's fundraising action have a wonderful association with the high end. Recognising the power of linking fashion with social action, they once again hosted a beauty of an event. Following last year's collaboration with Aspinal of London, they took over Chelsea's Monica Vinader flagship and invited a carefully selected group of gorgeous girls and their yummy mummies to raise awareness and money for the cause. With copious amounts of champagne and canapés donated by the jewellery designer herself, the event managed to raise sparkling amounts of money for the charity. And if the atmosphere, guestlist and luxury tinge can be repeated a third time, we will certainly be back for more. 

With thanks to Ella Sadika for photography.

'Tis the Season to be... Generous

'Tis the season to be generous... or so it seems. If one goes by the number of charity events popping up lately, summer and giving appear to go hand in hand. The volume of fundraising events and those attending seem to be ever-increasing, despite the fact that the majority of people are escaping London for even sunnier climbs. Why, we ask, have we all suddenly become more amenable to doing good? 

It is a known fact that happiness and generosity go hand in hand. When endorphin levels increase, prudishness and laziness decrease (scientific evidence to support must be out there. Somewhere). Whether it is a desire to enjoy the weather at whatever cost, or to grab life with both hands, the sunnier it is, the more people are out and about. And they seem to be ever-so-slightly less hesitant when it comes to spending. 'Just one jug of Pimms please... A bottle of Rosé{C} sounds good too... Oh ok, just one more'. 

Luckily, this generosity of spirit is translating in to the otherwise 'negative' aspect of charity. An otherwise dirty prefix to the word 'party' is suddenly becoming more sprightly, and people are realising that fun = the ability to make a difference. Finally.

To start the season off with a bang, The Society was invited to a lunch in support of ASAP (African Solutions to African Problems). The event was dedicated to raising money and awareness for rural women caring for vulnerable HIV/AIDS affected children in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, a cause specific enough to make a real difference. And let us tell you, we never knew a lunch of salad and celebrities could be so profitable. With a generous helping of Jude Law and Hugh Grant to whet the appetites of attendees, they blushed away their money... dramatically helping those in need with every flutter of their flirtatious eyelids. Invite us again, please. ASAP. 

For more information on the charity with such delightfully handsome support, click here. 

 

 

Sun's Out, Gun's Out

We have just been blessed with the most beautiful weekend. Scorching temperatures, a ubiquitous sun, endless out-doorsiness. The only downside has been a sudden fear: that of the necessary pretty-much-nakedness that comes with beautiful weather.

Sam Branson and Noah Devereux have been extremely wise, harnessing the knowledge of the above to create the perfect opportunity for summer; combining the good with the ability to change the bad.

They have just launched Strive, their answer to summer. The boys are uniting with a host of other determined, action-obsessed men and women to run, row, cycle, hike and climb their way to the top of the Matterhorn. They have already climbed to the top of the bloody O2. It is exhausting us - and impressing us - just thinking about it. The core team of ten and their guests - set to include Wimbledon champions, singers and comedians - will undertake the entire run over the summer, passing through the beautiful Champagne regions of France (without doubt sampling some of the delights the area has to offer...) as well as the mountains of Switzerland and general beautiful vistas of Europe. We don't know whether or not to be jealous. The thought of that effort and sweat; but then the experiences, the toned, summer-ready physiques and satisfaction that they will return with...

The madness is all in aid of their Big Change Life Skills project, meaning that the benefits will be widespread. Young people throughout the UK will reap rewards from the determination and hard work of the team - which, by the way, you can be a part of (email aabrams@wcpun.org for more information).

The boys have created the perfect example of all-round good. They have produced a project which is highly memorable, highly rewarding, highly exciting and highly profitable. Higher than the peak of the Matterhorn that they - and you - will be reaching. Follow their progress with us. Or take part. We dare you. 


ps. Whilst such a groundbreaking trip may be ever-so-slightly too difficult to organise on an individual basis, the concept is not. Set yourself an almost unthinkable target and feel the satisfaction when you achieve it. There is no better way to help others. 


Fuck the Poor

We all know them. We all hate them. Those men and women standing outside tubes brandishing their beliefs, waving placards boldly in our busy faces and shoving pamphlets in our unwanting grasps. And we never listen; forcing ideas on a community of people with somewhere to go is clearly a bad idea. Despite their sheer aggravation however, no one denies the worth of those opinions. No one screams or shouts back. They just ignore and walk on. Until recently. 

We strongly suggest that you watch the video below, created by The Pilion Trust. It focuses on a man who is, quite frankly, as annoying as every other soap-box operator in the country. It also approaches one of the most significant problems in our society: the perception of charity. 

 

One's immediate reaction is one of despair: no one gives a damn about the poor, they don't blink or look back. However, of stronger significance is the demonstration that people actually do care. The shocked responses, the outrage and confusion at the 'Fuck the poor' sign, all suggest that the man in the video - as brave as he is - has ticked a nerve. It shows that it is the perception of charity and its apathetic associations that are the problem, not the carelessness of people. There is something about 'giving' that is shrouded in laziness, in feelings of inability and quite frankly, boredom. It's not a lack of care, its a problem of attitude. 

So watch this video and be encouraged by the compassion of the people around you. Just make sure you are ever-so-slightly more productive. Transform a feeling of pity into a desire to change, and do something. 

Earth Hour

Last night, Britain plunged in to an hour of darkness. The lights of Big Ben were switched off, Windsor Castle's impressive facade faded into the night, and Buckingham Palace became a mere silhouette. 

The brightness of central London was extinguished. Or was it?

Yesterday's action was all part of 'Earth Hour', a worldwide movement promoted by the WWF to raise environmental awareness. Ten million people took part in England last year, and at this time we are still waiting for last night's numbers. But we wonder where those millions were, how many people actually noticed the sudden darkness to surround them, and how many knew what it was for?

Worldwide movements such as Earth Hour are incredibly beneficial to charities and social action groups for raising awareness of their causes. Without them, their plights would be kept in near total darkness (no pun intended). But we wonder whether enough is being done to promote these movements. Newspapers certainly reported that 'Britons are being asked to turn their lights off', but Instagram, Facebook and Twitter have all been pretty clear of signs that the British actually did. We ask, therefore, why are the press so involved, but social media so quiet? 

Social media has an incredible ability to make people do things. It doesn't just indiscriminately 'speak to' people, as the press does. It includes them, invites them to take part. Social media is personal.  The recent 'no makeup selfie' has been remarkable in that respect, the first truly charitable social media revolution. Its strength lies in two facets: 1. People can actually get involved and 2. They are named and shamed if they do not. It is peer pressure at its best, blackmailing people to do good and raise £8 million + in the process. It becomes clear that people must have a personal reason to get involved. Even if it is as simple as not being publicly embarrassed for not taking a photo of themselves. 

So when one looks to Earth Hour, or Water Day which quietly sailed past last week, one is left wondering when the world will realise that people only learn so much when they watch. It's when they do that things happen. 

Ballin. Playin. Givin.

We thought that we would take you back a while to Miami. To a scorching hot day with the sky as blue as the sand was white. The scene: beach volleyball, with some of the most beautiful people we had ever seen. The cause: Models4Water, a group that came together to raise enough money to build two wells in Burkina Faso. Dozens of models flooded the beach to create a fiercely competitive and remarkably productive day out. The lesson: Fundraising can be fun. It can be exciting. It can be BEAUTIFUL (just LOOK at them!). Click here to see just what they accomplished.