The Joys of June ??

Last month had us all wishing for warmer weather - and June seems to be delivering just that. Work, though, has carried on despite the distractions brought about by?the arrival of British summertime; it's been a big month of headlines. We're in the midst of a general election campaign, Small Charity Week was a key topic in social enterprise, and there are?some extremely important sweepstakes in action!???

Our top stories...

Social Enterprise & Non-Profit

#SmallCharityWeek

June saw the return of Small Charity Week, an annual awareness campaign run by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.?From the 24th to the 28th the NCVO shared various resources and support materials that enable?small charities across the UK to amplify their voices, as well as encourage?general conversation about the impact of these?grassroots organisations. Although some of the materials were one-off training sessions, many recordings and guides are permanently free to access. If you work in the non-profit sector, it's worth keeping an eye on their site for tips on everything from HR management to fundraising.

Corporate contribution to social good

Social Enterprise UK's Buy Social Corporate Challenge has now been running for nine years - and the latest annual report?shows that?this one's been the most successful yet.?ï¿¡123 million was spent by corporate partners on 992 social enterprise suppliers, and trading relationships between these enterprises and corporations have increased by 74% in just two years.?The initiative challenges businesses to involve social enterprises in their supply chains, in turn demonstrating social responsibility?and a commitment to addressing societal issues.

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Bids?for St Barnabas?

An opportunity has arisen for a charity or social organisation to purchase a historic Soho building following?the closure of The?House of St Barnabas. This?London-based homelessness charity was funded through?a private members club in a Grade I listed Georgian building - which since 2013 has hosted the likes of Adele and Peter Capaldi!?Despite its famous clientele and?162 years of service, the charity?went into liquidation back in January, meaning that the property is now seeking a new owner. It's hoped that St Barnabas' legacy will live on - liquidators are?especially open to proposals from organisations with "purposes compatible" with their own. ?

Credit Unions

Sid the Shark goes to school

Money?literacy is crucial for future financial wellbeing, so with?Young Enterprise's My Money Week?running from the 9th to the 13th of June, Stop Loan Sharks' Sid has been making his way around some UK primary schools. Supported by local credit unions, the friendly shark taught?the importance of money management through projects such as?the Fiver Challenge?- a programme launched by Young Enterprise that challenges children to set up a business with?a ï¿¡5 note. A maths lesson that's?certainly more exciting than algebra!

Ethical advertising for ethical banks

Those of us working in the ethical finance industry will likely be aware of some recent?rulings from the Advertising Standards Authority. The ASA questioned two?adverts for loan products launched last Christmas by UK credit unions, claiming that they encouraged overspending by implying that borrowing money would remove any stress from the festive period. The news?has?served as a reminder to us all of just how important compliance is in advertising - so for?some tips on creating ethical adverts, check out?our latest blog?post.

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What ABCUL's asking for...

Many of this month's biggest stories have, of course, surrounded Rishi Sunak's general election announcement in May. With its objective to "support credit unions in building financial resilience across households, workplaces, and communities", ABCUL?has published a list of 2024 General Election Policy Asks?for the new government, including requests?such as commitment to a Financial Inclusion Strategy and a capital support fund to help facilitate mergers. ABCUL's established connections with many government ministers have allowed significant lobbying success over the years, so the upcoming election puts us in "a hugely exciting time for the credit union sector".

Digital Marketing

A singer with a strategy

"Swiftie" or not, you can't deny?that Taylor is a genius when it comes to marketing. The pop icon does more than sing;?she connects with her audience in a way that every marketer should aspire to, adopting a relatable tone that attracts new fans and keeps old ones viciously loyal. And it's paid off - her Eras Tour (currently sweeping the UK, in case you hadn't noticed) has grossed more than $1 billion, making it the highest-grossing tour of all time. So, no matter what you're marketing, there's a lot to be learnt from the Swift strategy...

How?brands are using the beautiful game

Euro 2024 is in full swing, and, as predicted, there's been a host of?brilliant reactive marketing campaigns from some of the biggest brands. Responding to real-time events boosts engagement and relevance - plus, it has?the potential to reach audiences?who haven't previously been exposed to your product but have an interest in the topic. We've seen?comical ads like IRN BRU's video of a doctor prescribing a ticket to Scotland vs. Germany and a can of IRN BRU, as well as sentimental clips like Adidas' depiction of the highs and lows of being an England supporter... an international football tournament is a marketing opportunity not to be missed!

... All in all, a lot happened this month in ethical finance, the social sector and marketing alike! We'd like to wish everyone a fantastic July, and stay tuned for our next update ??

- The team @ Zync