Charity begins at work as business gets on board

Charities have always been wary of getting involved with the corporate world, but the Pilotlight initiative, which brings the two together, is positive, inspiring and brings many benefits to both parties, says Mike Dickson

They met regularly, offered practical and positive contributions and introduced us to many people – all of whom helped to lift the charity to another level. They thoroughly enjoyed being involved with Whizz-Kidz, getting to know each other better and having an inspirational break from their demanding day jobs. And four of the group later became trustees. I didn’t realise it at the time, but I was encouraging ‘Pilotlighting’.

Every so often you meet someone and suddenly realise you’d be happy to do almost any favour for them if they asked. Someone whose charm, energy and enthusiasm masks their outstanding ability to focus and get things done.

Fiona Halton, chief executive of Pilotlight since 1997, is one such person. In her own words she’s ‘a starter-upper of things’, a social entrepreneur. She founded British Film Year in 1983, then joined Jane Tewson at Charity Projects in 1986, co-directing the first Comic Relief in 1988. She also persuaded Mick Newmarch, while chief executive of the Pru, to set up the Holborn Investment Challenge. Interest-free loans were given for a year to five teams of investors who competed against each other to make the largest profit and give it to charity. It was inspired; £250,000 was raised and Prudential got its money back.

Getting stars and celebrities together to raise money for charities at Comic Relief became Fiona’s inspiration for Timebank, which was created to encourage volunteering, and Pilotlight, which persuades senior professionals to use their skills and talents to help charities.

Pilotlight introduces ‘time-poor, skills-rich’ senior executives to small, community-based charities with incomes ranging from £100,000 to £1 million, which wish to grow, but do not have the knowledge or strategies to turn their dreams into realities.