The Four Seasons by Marc Chagall

Review of 07/08
As the next tax year looms, I realise that I should probably do a quick review of 07/08 before it really is too late:

My first project of the year was a continuation of some of the campaigning research work I’d done for Oxfam International. This culminated in me setting up and facilitating a 4-way agency pitch for some exploratory international campaigning work, to take them beyond Make Poverty History and discover ways that could help them recruit a global campaigning force.

The National Osteoporosis Society asked me to provide some support while they were between creative agencies. I had a pleasurable time going back to my roots by developing and writing a fundraising direct mail pack for their Autumn appeal. This involved interviewing people for case studies to use in the body of the material and it proved a very moving experience.

The Golden Web Foundation were looking at the principals of Major Donor fundraising and I did a sizable piece of research for them in order to help them respond to the new trend among Ultra High Net Worth Individuals called ‘Venture Philanthropy’. It was during this project that I discovered two major sources of inspiration: The Clinton Global Initiative and The Elders. I also had the pleasure of collaborating with the Factary as part of providing consultation.

One of my favourite pieces of work came to me via the Cambridge Business Women’s Network in the shape of Anderson Health Management. They were looking for someone to articulate who they were in a way that would appeal to local businesses and we had a lot of fun coming up with a Get Well Soon card that would introduce stress management workshops.  We also worked together in developing their communications strategy for the coming year for this target audience.

There was a lot of other activity going on too, mostly of networking furiously in Cambridge, following leads, putting in formal tenders for projects - some of which didn’t come off but did provide new contacts and in some cases new friends.

I celebrated my first full year freelancing as an independent creative director with a garden party at home complete with afternoon tea, scones, jam, and lashings of Pimms. A mixture of business contacts and friends (the boundaries become ever more blurred these days) turned up to help me celebrate and my sense of happiness surprised me far more than my sense of satisfaction.