CHARITY: The Community Channel is promoting a newly created teleshopping service for charities. The charity broadcaster is screening a pilot for the service this week, focusing on Help the Aged.
COUNCILS: The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched a campaign this week calling for extra funding for council emergency planning activity. The LGA says £17m in extra funding is needed.
HEALTH: Macmillan Cancer Relief and the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation are launching a joint PR push next month, focusing on helping people to better recognise the symptoms of lung cancer.
The campaign has celebrity endorsement from singer Melanie C and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
COUNCILS: LG Comms, the association that represents council communications teams, has appointed comms consultant Kevin Wilson as its secretary and treasurer.
He replaces Michael Baker, who steps down after three years in the role. Wilson said one of his priorities will be to improve the association’s online work.
HOUSING: The London Housing Federation has appointed Audit Commission PRO Jo Pearce as its comms officer. Reporting to federation head Sue Ellenby, she will handle all comms and PA work and replaces Lisa Wimbourne, who has left to go on maternity leave.
CAMPAIGN: Deaf charity RNID has pledged to lobby the Government for a ‘powerful single equalities body to ensure the rights of deaf and hard-of- hearing people are adequately protected’, as part of its campaigning commitments for 2003/2004. The charity, in its Impact Report, has also pledged campaigning to ensure hearing screening for new-born babies in Scotland and Northern Ireland by 2005.
YOUTH: Barnardo’s is to launch a PR push surrounding a celebrity recipe book, Dishing Up a Future for Kids, specially produced by the charity. It is hoped that £50,000 will be raised from sales of the book. A press launch, featuring actress Lynda Bellingham, takes place next week.
