Social Activist

I am involved in a number of activities that come under the

heading Social Activist. They include:

Campaigning

I am chairman of the Think Tank for a three-year project which will attack the prejudice and stigma experienced by people who have suffered from mental ill health. The project is based in Norfolk and called Stuff Stigma. It's one of a number of local projects being run under the banner Moving People, by the national charity Rethink.

The Big Lottery Fund granted £18 million towards the national campaign for the collaborative campaign to be shared between Rethink, Mind and Mental Health Media.

The Stuff Stigma website is now live and you can find out more about getting involved at www.stuffstigma.org

We ran a pilot project last year which included a conference in Norwich in February 2007 and you can read a report of this event.

Encouraging Social Enterprise

I have written many articles on charities and on Social Enterprise and am a firm believer that it's the way forward as funding for charities and not for profit organisations becomes harder to get and is often granted with strings attached.

Here are links to some articles on issues affecting charities and on Social Enterprise:

Why are Charities addicted to Government Funding?

Why being inclusive often means leaving people out. 

Social Enterpreneurship is the way forward. I'm keen to encourage more Social Enterprises and you can find out more on my website www.advantagecic.org

Here's a global Social Enterprise.  Landmark Internships is an organisation in Nigeria set up by Gbenga Uriel Ogunjimi as a Social Enterprise. It aims to arrange internships for Nigerians post grads in organisations in other countries. I’ve been advising Gbenga since he contacted me after buying one of my books.

Pro Bono Work:

In common with many successful people I am frequently asked to donate my time and expertise free to worthwhile causes. I’m very selective about which offers I accept and insist that my involvement is linked to a specific objective. Currently I’m a Trustee of Norfolk Community Foundation, Chair The Norfolk Exchange, am a Governor of Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership and Chair a Regional member group for Rethink. 

For more information on causes I believe in, click here