Sweet charity
Altruism abounds
This issue of the newsletter is a little more about giving than taking.
In just about two weeks me, Joanna, my daughter, my niece, my brother and my brother-in-law will be walking 26 miles from Padstow to Newquay on England’s South West Coast to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. You can sponsor us if you want.
Since I lost my wife Allyson to cancer in 2018, I’ve done some form of summer charity challenge every year. It’s a very personal thing and the best way I know to support the wonderful people that helped my family at a very difficult time.
Getting ready for the hike got me thinking about how magazines are in a perfect position to help charities. They have a platform, they sit at the centre of a community and they have credibility, an excellent mix when you’re trying to raise money.
I was surprised though, that in researching magazine-charity tie-ins for this newsletter, I didn’t find too many. I can offer three examples of magazine people supporting good causes, but I know there are more out there.
Tell me about those that you are involved in or just those that you are aware of, so that I can share them in the newsletter.
Where’s your head at?
Back in 2018, Bauer Media teamed up with mental-health campaigner Natasha Devon and Mental Health First Aid England to ask people to sign a petition to make to make mental health first-aiders compulsory in every workplace. The idea was to use Bauer’s influence with celebrity supporters to spread the word to the company’s audience of 25 million people. In October 2018, a petition with 200,000 was delivered to Downing Street.
Reader research told Bauer that 77% of our audience felt that acts of kindness helped boost positive mindset. So to mark World Mental Health Day 2020, Bauer teamed up with mental health charity Chasing the Stigma to launch #PledgeKindness, a campaign that encouraged people to do something kind for someone else.
Now, Bauer Academy, the training division of Bauer Media is offering a course to foster healthier wellbeing in the workplace. In partnership with Where’s Your Head at it will develop understanding of mental health and wellbeing as well as deliver practical insights and techniques for supporting others.
The Rainbow Trust
Earlier this year The Chelsea Magazine company announced its support for The Rainbow Trust, a charity supporting families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness. The publisher has committed to help to promote the work of Rainbow Trust with complimentary advertising space in its magazines and websites.
The Chelsea Magazine Company is an independent print and digital publisher with a portfolio stretching from travel and lifestyle to sports. With several parenting titles, the company is perfectly placed to reach an audience that will share the Rainbow Trust’s mission to help families looking after a seriously ill child.
Heavy Metal Truants
A decade ago, former Metal Hammer editor Alex Milas was on a charity bike ride with the manager of UK metal legends Iron Maiden. Over a beer they cooked up Heavy Metal Truants, a now annual 175-mile cycle from London to the Castle Donington and the Download heavy metal festival.
Over the years, 275 participants from over 35 countries have raised almost £5 million for children’s causes including music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins and the Teenage Cancer Trust. The beautiful thing about the Heavy Metal Truants is the way it has brought together the three elements of the magazine world, readers - now able to participate in virtual events - journalists and the performers they cover.
This week’s magazine song doesn’t actually have the word magazine in it, but you’ll get the point… it’s ‘The Cover of Rolling Stone’, by Dr Hook.
What’s your favourite magazine song? Just reply to this email to get it added to the Magazine Songs playlist.
Thanks for reading
Please remember to send me any ideas that you think are worth stealing for future issues. And remember, if you would like any help finding ideas for your business, let's arrange a chat.