The Week in Charities

Kate Magee, PR Week UK, 03 December 2009, 00:00am

The UK Drug Policy Commission has hired Victoria Silver as head of communications. She was previously in the same role at volunteering charity CSV. She replaces Ben Lynam, who has moved to the Environment Agency.

The Mines Advisory Group has kicked off media work to publicise an eBay auction to raise money for its Music Beats Mines project, which aims to clear landmines. The group has persuaded music stars including Radiohead and Elbow to donate items.

Newsnight, Radio 4's You and Yours programme and Alastair Campbell's documentary Cracking Up were all winners at mental health charity Mind's media awards last week. The awards recognise programmes or articles that include positive portrayals of mental health.

The Meningitis Trust has teamed up with NHS Derby City to raise awareness of the disease locally. It will hold an awareness day in December.

Weber Shandwick's Manchester office has sent a giant Christmas card to the main military base in Afghanistan, signed by celebrities including Terry Wogan, The Sun's Page 3 girls and Peter Kay. It is part of a campaign for its client greeting card site Whamoosh.com, raising money for the Army Benevolent Fund.