Corporate Social Responsibility - SpecialEffect

I am a proud ambassador of SpecialEffect, a charity that specialises in developing technology to help disabled people overcome their physical challenges through the use of video games and leisure technology.

They use a range of technologies, from eye-gaze systems that let their users control computers (and play games) with just their eye movements, to modified keyboards and controllers. Each solution is unique, taking into account the abilities of the individual they’re working with.

We’ve been involved with SpecialEffect since 2010 and developed their website. But our involvement goes much deeper than that.

The TwinTown Challenge

In 2014 the TwinTown Challenge was set up by Brendan Cross at STL Communications. Twin Town is a car rally between Witney and its twin town in France, Le Touquet.

Teams are tasked with buying a car for ￡500 that will then compete in a number of challenges before driving in convoy to Le Touquet and back via the Brands Hatch, Le Mans and Croix en Ternois race courses. Teams fundraise along the way, with all money going to SpecialEffect.

This was right up our street – matching the interests of the team, supporting a charity we were already involved in and providing plenty of opportunities to challenge ourselves and meet new people.

We entered a team to take part, as well as sponsoring the event and building the website.

The event was a great success, raising a fantastic ￡30,000 for SpecialEffect.

TwinTown 16

That wasn’t the end of our involvement with SpecialEffect or TwinTown. The Twin Town Challenge is back for 2016, and we’re taking part yet again – as sponsors, providing a website, supporting their digital marketing and also taking part.

Our team, Uber Element, will be driving a 1996 black cab pimped out with interior light show, sound system and onboard WiFi and charging station so it can act as a social media hub.

Help Us Support SpecialEffect and Twin Town

I hope that you’ve been inspired to look at how you can implement CSR policies in your business. If you’d like to support our Twin Town 16 fundraising, you can find our more on our BT MyDonate page.

If you’re interested in taking part or sponsoring the event, you can find out more at www.twintown16.co.uk.

Ahead of the main challenge, we’ll be taking the taxi on tour to Oxfordshire business parks and networking groups. We’ll be offering website SEO reviews in return for a donation to the charity.