v has had a fantastic year in 2008 and it’s largely due to all of the support we have received from you, our supporters and friends. To say thank you, we’ve created the vinspired Christmas ecard with a unique video message from our very own CEO Terry Ryall Open it here and please have some fun with it!
As you know, back in September v launched its Favours campaign, designed to show how simple and enjoyable it can be to make a difference to someone’s life. Through Fashion Favours, volunteers have been creating fabulous new designs from recycled clothing. We were even able to persuade the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and wife, Sarah Brown, to donate items from their own wardrobes for the cause! The response from the public has been overwhelming and the campaign culminates tonight with a fashion show of winning designs, to be hosted by TV’s Miquita Oliver.
Our latest campaign, Festive Favours, which kicks off today, is a new initiative to get people thinking about how they can make the season more meaningful for themselves and others. We’re asking everyone to get involved!
One of the more unusual (and energetic) events is called Pedal Power: It involves the lighting up of giant Christmas trees! The 30ft trees will be placed in Hardman Square, Manchester (9th-14th Dec) and at the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland festival, London (16th-19th Dec), and adorned with 2000 Christmas fairy lights. The lights are connected to 10 exercise bikes placed around the tree – and they’ll only sparkle if at least five bikes are being pedalled at any one time. The more people we have pedalling, the brighter the lights will shine! It is a fun event, all about pulling together and spreading some Christmas cheer, that we hope will underline the spirit of our Favours campaign by demonstrating how easy it is to make a difference to someone’s day without spending any money or taking hours out of your own day.
On December 1st we launched the v virtual advent calendar. Featuring 24 different ‘random acts of kindness’ that we hope will inspire everyone during the lead up to Christmas. It’s a great way to help people realise just how simple doing a favour is are and what a huge difference it can make to others. The calendar is available from http://www.vinspired.com/ home page and can be downloaded as a Facebook widget. It’s important that we get as many people as possible behind this initiative so please do remember to download it for yourself and send on to everyone you know. You’ll be surprised at how many simple ways there are to make the season more special for us all.
We also have a huge hamper giveaway in London on 22nd December, which will be an amazing occasion. Keep an eye on vinspired for details...
Without the fantastic help and support from you, these campaigns would not have been possible, so we would like to take this opportunity to say a wholehearted “thank you” to you all and wish you the very merriest and happiest Christmas.
Don’t forget to check out all of the Festive Favours activity throughout December and for information on how you can get involved simply go to
Thanks again.
The team at v.
