The BIG Alliance

🎉 Happy 35th anniversary ELBA!🎉

Thank you to everyone who joined us last week to explore the value - and challenges! - of place-based work. As we discussed at the event, the Young Grant Makers is part of Islington Giving’s ongoing work to shift power into the hands of local people. It gives young people the opportunity to actively shape youth services and activities in the borough. ✊🏼 For 2025, we plan to build on the programme’s success by pairing each Young Grant Maker with an inspiring mentor from a corporate sector partner, working with The BIG Alliance to facilitate. If you're interested in discussing how we can support you to better understand the needs of the local area, and work in partnership with the community - including shifting power into the hands of local people - please get in touch with Isobel Miller: [email protected] and Lisa Robinson: [email protected]. 🎬Watch our video to learn more and get in touch today! Macquarie Group Linklaters East London Business Alliance Rachel Engel Saboohi Bukhari London Funders Luke Brown Matt Sparkes #CSR #LocalImpact #Philanthropy #PhilanthropyMatters #MentoringMatters #SocialValue #SocialImpact #YouthEmpowerment #ParticipatoryGrantmaking Islington Giving Alumni

A great pleasure to host Islington Giving and The BIG Alliance for some fascinating insights into the Value of Local in CSR and Philanthropy. We were treated to an inspirational introduction from Saboohi Bukhari and then a thoroughly engaging discussion between the incredible Julie Hutchinson, Rachel Engel and Matt Sparkes. Also very exciting to hear about the new Young Grant Maker programme https://shorturl.at/zzk0y. A really innovative opportunity to deliver impact in local communities!

Yesterday's 'Value of Local in CSR and Philanthropy' event was jam-packed with engaging discussions and valuable insights. We are very excited about the new #YoungGrantMakers programme in collaboration with Islington Giving, where each Young Grant Maker will have access to a corporate mentor. Learn more here: 🎬 https://shorturl.at/zzk0y Huge thanks to Jonathan Tait and Linklaters for being wonderful hosts, Lisa Robinson and Isobel Miller for all their planning, and Tamanna Ali for making the lovely video.

It's a busy day for BIG Alliance, attending MUFG's Season of Giving launch event and running one of our Conversational English sessions for #Islington asylum seekers, in partnership with Union Chapel UK. Meeting, seeing and speaking to #CSR champions, returning and prospective #volunteers and our community partners is what keeps us motivated! These interactions remind us of the positive impact we can achieve together and encourage us to continue fostering strong connections between businesses and Islington's community organisations.

Last Thursday, BIG Alliance partnered up with Expedia Group as part of Expedia’s #monthofcaring campaign to offer a meaningful Social Hub experience for The Stuart Low Trust (SLT) service users. SLT is a charity that fosters connection, creativity and wellbeing through a range of community events. Throughout the event, attendees from Expedia and SLT engaged in lively conversations while decorating cupcakes and painting canvases, creating a warm atmosphere filled with laughter. The competitive spirit came alive at the board game area, adding an exciting edge to the day and bringing everyone together. This event was a really lovely bonding session. It was wonderful to see everyone interacting and sharing stories about their life experiences and interests, serving as a powerful reminder of the importance of human connection! #communitybuilding #wellbeing #inclusion

🌱 ELBA & BIG Alliance Teamwork in Action! 🌱 Yesterday, the ELBA & BIG Alliance team took on an inspiring team challenge, living the values that fuel our mission. Partnering with the amazing Teesdale and Hollybush TRA, we rolled up our sleeves to optimise and beautify their green spaces! 🌿🌼 Through sunshine and rain, we transformed two areas into vibrant, welcoming spaces that the entire community can enjoy. This is the kind of positive, lasting impact ELBA & BIG Alliance is all about! 🙌✨ #CommunityImpact #GreenSpaces #TeamChallenge #PositiveChange #ELBAInAction #BIGAllianceInAction #VolunteerPower #SustainableFuture #LoveeastLondon 🌍💚

This week, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our annual CoRe programme, aimed at empowering Islington-based charities to overcome key strategic challenges and enhance their long-term sustainability. Over the next six months, teams of 50+ dedicated corporate #volunteers will partner with 11 local #community organisations to address crucial challenges they’re currently facing, such as: 🔑 Income Generation – helping charities explore new revenue streams and reduce reliance on grants, paving the way for financial self-sufficiency. 📊 Impact Measurement – supporting organisations in tracking and demonstrating the amazing impact they have on their communities. 📈 Business Development & Marketing – offering strategic guidance to help grow their reach, improve communications, and maximise their impact. ⚙️ Policy & Process Updates – assisting in refining internal systems to run more effectively and efficiently. The challenges faced by local community organisations are significant, from funding cuts to growing service demands. Our goal is to help these organisations build their capacity, improve capabilities, and develop long-term sustainability. CoRe programme is about more than just volunteer advice; it’s about embedding real, lasting change, so these charities can continue to thrive and serve their communities for years to come. At the end of the launch event, we asked the teams to share how they were feeling about the journey ahead. The overwhelming response was captured in the word cloud below, with key words like optimistic, excited, motivated, supported, and positive emerging as the top sentiments. We’re incredibly excited to see the impact this programme will have, and we are so grateful to the volunteers who are stepping up to make a difference. #Volunteering #Impact #NonProfitSupport #SocialGood #SkillsBasedVolunteering #Community

In challenging times, our strength is in the connections we nurture and the support we offer one another. Let's continue building bridges and celebrating our shared values.  💪❤️  #CommunityCohesion #StrongerTogether #WorkingTogether

And that’s a wrap on our Leaders in Partnership Autumn 2023 cohort! Yesterday we had a fantastic Celebration Event, hosted by MUFG, with great, buzzing energy in the room. The event was an opportunity for the #volunteer coaches and community partners (coachees) to share their experiences of #coaching, reflect on key takeaways and learnings, and connect with other leaders from the #corporate and #community sectors. Huge thank you to everyone who took part in the programme, came along to the event, with a special thanks to Tom Hunt and Sally Baxter from for sharing their experience with the attendees. Watch this space for an impact report!