Blog

One of the campaigns we have supported since the summer is Bluebird Care’s Every Visit Counts – a national awareness drive to help reduce loneliness among older people.

The campaign brings expert tips and highlights ways that everyone can help to spot and beat loneliness in society.

Our three Bluebird Care clients have all supported the campaign and if this silent epidemic is to be tackled and turned around, then as a society we all need to step up and do our bit.

Across the South East, nearly a fifth (17%) spend nearly a month (24 days) a year without seeing anyone. according to a poll carried out by Bluebird Care.

The survey of 1,000 over 65-year-olds, found 11% spent five days or more a month without seeing anyone.

The poll also found that in the South East:

• Four in 10 (40%) feel lonely either often or sometimes.
• A third (31%) would not admit to someone they trust that they are lonely.
• Four in 10 (42%) say they do not have access to support when they are feeling lonely.

From introducing a dog-visiting service, to throwing an afternoon’s Bake-Off event for people with dementia and their carers, to getting behind the campaign publicly and urging others in their communities to do the same, all our homecare clients supported the initiative because they see first-hand the scale and effect that this problem has.

We supported the campaign with press releases, media liaison, social media messages and helped kick-start further interest in a #magicmoments social media initiative, where staff from one Bluebird Care office challenged each other to create a magic moment with an older person and share it on Facebook. They would then challenge someone else to do the same thing. You can read some of our coverage below.

Their teams of highly-trained care assistant do an amazing job, supporting people in their own homes, providing them with the daily contact they need and keeping them safe and well. But they are also aware that thousands of older people across the UK do not have this help and much-needed daily contact and that’s where we can all do our bit.

One of the best times to send out a press release is late July or August as it is traditionally a quiet news time and journalists will be looking for stories to fill print and online pages.

It is especially good for features, which are longer and often have a longer shelf-life – unless of course you have an event or key date involved in which case issue your story pronto.

Being quick is key – it sounds obvious but after an event you need to issue the photos and a story roundup to your media the next morning. News dates… fast!

We’ve had a busy couple of months – here’s a selection of some of our recent articles – showing the breadth of our work. Thanks to all our clients for being so forward-thinking, dynamic and often ground-breaking.

Have a great summer break if you are off on holiday – remember to issue your news first – but not just before you leave – or you won’t be around to see what’s happened to your story. Following up and building relationships with reporters is key. PR doesn’t happen by accident unless you are very fortunate – it’s all about giving journalists what they want when they need it.

 

 

 

It’s been an exciting time for Lyndall and I getting out with the Riversimple ‘Rasa’ hydrogen car and its team as it draws huge crowds and generates such a buzz at prestigious events such as the London Motor Show and the forthcoming Festival of Speed at Goodwood.

We came on board at a pivotal time, to coordinate the PR for the launch of crowdfunding for a stake in the world’s only independent hydrogen fuel cell car company.

The aim was building confidence in Riversimple as an investment option, directing investors or sign-ups to the site, raising brand awareness and keeping momentum going following extensive launch coverage. People can’t get enough of this neatly-styled Welsh export on wheels it seems.

They had amazing front page coverage in June 2016

OFC Cover QW JUNE2016

14-19 RiverSimple QWJune2016 D

More coverage came from strong publications, many of whom have Gen X and millennial audiences, comfortable with the concept of crowdfunding and receptive to new and green technology. Read more here https://coveragebook.com/coverage_books/39b5c043

We appeared in a supplement in The Times newspaper in June 2016.

We have subsequently handled the PR for the launch of the first UK car trial – the first of its kind in the UK for a hydrogen vehicle.

http://www.nextgreencar.com/

http://www.gizmag.com

People at the London Motor Show loved it’s green credentials – it’s one of the greenest cars on the road, only emitting water, using space-age technology and featuring a simple all-inclusive monthly contract fee.

In the week starting June 13, the car travelled to the Houses of Parliament to be greeted by MPs, before driving to the Welsh Assembly on June 16 to meet the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Ken Skates.

A UK trial of this ultra-cool driving machine is due to be launched in early 2017 in the Monmouthshire area, with people already putting their names down for a chance to be one of the 20 lucky drivers. This is mobility with a difference.