Pilotlight Cymru sparks a brighter future for charities through closer links with business

17-09-2009

Business people in Wales now have the opportunity to use their skills to help smaller charities and social enterprises (CSEs) throughout Wales prosper and grow. CSEs face the same challenges all businesses face. In essence, these organisations are subject to the same market forces and operational issues experienced by most small and medium sized businesses, a fact recognised by the UK charity Pilotlight.

Since 2003, Pilotlight has been bringing entrepreneurial CSEs and business leaders together to work through a strategic planning and development process. Pilotlight believes that although money is important to CSEs, providing them with the business skills to maximise their financial and human resources is essential to them reaching their full potential – both in quality of the service they offer and the number of people they are able to help.

Pilotlight has proved a great success in London, and Scotland (since 2007). To date, 340 business people, or Pilotlighters, have helped over 100 charities through a business planning process – vital for meeting the challenges of today’s tough trading conditions. Impressively, Pilotlight charities show an average 22% annual growth as opposed to just 3% for the voluntary sector. Pilotlight Cymru has now launched and is open for business.

Peter Davies, Commissioner for Wales, UK Sustainable Development Commission said: “I welcome Pilotlight to Wales because I know Pilotlight works and has a very positive impact on the voluntary sector. Pilotlight provides the structure, focus and a range of business skills which are vital for charities and social enterprises building a sustainable future.” Pilotlight Cymru’s aim is to encourage business people in Wales to use their skills and experience to help small and medium sized CSEs thrive. These Pilotlighters dedicate three hours per month working in teams of senior people drawn from different disciplines and industries. Pilotlighters will be matched with a partner CSE, and will use their specific skills and experience to mentor the CSE director through business planning.

The Pilotlighters concentrate on the opportunities and challenges facing the CSE, while a Pilotlight Project Manager organises and facilitates all meetings, ensuring positive outcomes at each stage and supports the CSE and Pilotlighters throughout the projects. Apart from the opportunity to use their skills in the not for profit sector, Pilotlighters also have an opportunity to develop their own skills and experience, as well creating new networks of other Pilotlighters.

In a 2009 survey of the Pilotlight Membership, 94% of Pilotlighters say they have refreshed or improved their skills in their work with Pilotlight. One former HR Director said:“Pilotlight is very rewarding if you come from a corporate life because it allows you to use your skills in a very different environment and you see the charities you work with develop and go forward…it’s fantastic.’’

“We are delighted to be launching in Wales,” said Fiona Halton, Chief Executive of Pilotlight: “Start up money from Esmee Fairbairn and the Big Lottery made this possible and nothing could have been achieved without the fantastic support of the Welsh business and voluntary sector.”

For further information contact Shantel Irwin on sirwin@pilotlight.org.uk   or visit www.pilotlight.org.uk