Exeter ‘Come Dine With Me’ Star Raises Money For Food Charity

Exeter-based PR Consultant Glen King, with clients across the South West, celebrated her TV debut on popular Channel 4 programme, ‘Come Dine with Me’ by hosting a special event to raise awareness for Exeter Foodbank.

Glen organised an evening for close friends and family at the luxurious kitchen showroom Sapphire Living Space located at Topsham which was sponsored by V-Zug. Guests were welcomed with wine and canapés and asked to donate tins and packets of food for the local worthy cause.  A charity raffle with prizes donated by local independent companies was drawn by BBC Radio Devon presenter Judi Spiers raising much needed funds for the charity.

Glen King/ Ross Pollard ­ Director, Sapphire Living Space / Nick Crosley ­ Development Chef V-Zug/ Alex Newbery ­ Business Development, Sapphire Living Space /Mark Newbery ­ Director, Sapphire Living Space/ Judi Spiers and Matthew Dibley ­ Company Director, Bang & Olufsen Exeter

Wine and delicious food including melt-in-the-mouth rare beef cooked using the ‘Soft Roast’ function on the V-Zug Combi-Steam oven was prepared and served by Development Chef, Nick Crosley.  Guests enjoyed each course in between watching the five episodes of Glen’s week on ‘Come Dine with Me’ shown on an impressive 55” LED television screen kindly donated by Bang & Olufsen of Exeter. 

Glen King of Glen King PR/Marketing says: “I organise many events on behalf of my clients which always has a charity angle as I firmly believe in business giving back to the local community.  It was a great opportunity, therefore, to raise awareness for Exeter Foodbank which tied in nicely with the theme of the programme and Sapphire Living Space was the perfect venue. It is hard to believe in this day and age that there are unemployed people here in the City who through no fault of their own have little or no money to feed their families and Christmas is a particularly stressful and difficult time for them. The staff at Sapphire couldn’t have been more helpful and I particularly want to thank Alex Newbery for all her amazing hard work to make it such a successful and enjoyable event and her liaison with the charity as well as the generosity of the sponsors and local businesses.”

Glen was successfully selected for ‘Come Dine with Me’ from over 300 applicants in the local area.  Fellow contestants were Estelle Macrow and Sarah Wallis based in Exeter plus Richard Kaye of Ottery St. Mary and Estate Agent, Stephen Levy from Dartmouth. As part of the new autumn series, the programme was aired in mid-November and although Glen came in last she had a respectable score of 26.

Says Glen: “It was a fun and amazing experience to film for this popular and much-loved programme although absolutely exhausting.  There was a gruelling daily filming schedule of 12 hours over a period of five days.  The other contestants were able to take the week off work however, being self-employed I was still running my business as I didn’t want to let my clients down.  On my day of hosting, everything was going smoothly and according to plan.  I live in a town house and my kitchen/diner is on the ground floor, however, at the eighth hour the director decided that the guests were to be seated in my lounge which is located on the second floor.  As a result I was not able to return to my kitchen to check on my cooking and all hell was let lose when the smoke-alarm went off!  I served burnt carrots and raw lamb but it made great television and Dave Lamb the Voiceover man had a field day – at least I will always be remembered!”

http://exeter.foodbank.org.uk/

Radiance Medispa Heralds Growth Success at Launch Day

Radiance MediSpa, an Exeter based business, opened the doors of its new pioneering premises to the public with a launch day on Saturday 27^th April 2013. The event celebrated a significant growth stage for the business, which has been supported by business growth service, GrowthAccelerator.

Radiance MediSpa has been launched by Dr Ros Debenham offering non-invasive skin and body treatments ranging from laser hair restoration to non-surgical liposuction – some of which are exclusive in the South West. A mother and daughter team, the business offers a full range of beauty and complementary therapies in its new premises. In 2012 the business signed up to GrowthAccelerator, a service provided by the country’s leading growth specialists that helps businesses identify barriers to growth, links them to business experts who provide tailored advice and support them to achieve their next phase of growth. 

GrowthAccelerator has helped the business jump from being home based to purchasing and renovating its new premises, by supporting with finalising the figures, managing cash flow and ensuring that a full strategy was in place. The new building now has 11 sumptuous treatment rooms, high-end hairdressing salon and personal trainer gym enabling Radiance MediSpa to realise its full potential and work alongside other health and wellbeing professionals, offering the South West a wide range of treatments.

Katharine Bourke, Growth Manager at GrowthAccelerator, said: “The opening of Radiance MediSpa’s new larger premises is testament to how the team has leveraged the strength of the business’ existing reputation and customer base to drive further growth. GrowthAccelerator’s experts continue to work alongside the business to help it identify new opportunities, and to ensure it has the appropriate strategy and skills in place to realise its full potential.”

Ros Debenham of Radiance MediSpa, commented: “We want to establish Radiance MediSpa as a pioneering centre of medical and beauty excellence in the South West with our team of qualified therapists who work with face, body, mind and lifestyle. GrowthAccelerator has given us the confidence to move forward and give the development of the new premises our full attention. I leapt at the chance of outside coaching to help us set the business on a rapid path, enabling us to achieve future growth and monitor it more closely.”

200 people attended the open day in aid of The Lady Taverners and Look Good Feel Better hosted by popular BBC Radio Devon presenter Judi Spiers.  It gave current and new clients the opportunity to take part in complimentary taster sessions and demonstrations, meet the team and enter the charity raffle.

Radiance MediSpa directly employs four people an already has seven alternative therapists and renowned plastic surgeon on board.  and has its sights set on doubling this in the near future to maximise the new 7,233 square foot premises. Radiance MediSpa now occupies Lower Ground Floor, Augustus House, New North Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4HL.

Photographs courtesy of Ed Mash.

www.radiancemedispa.co.uk

Art Project Aims to Raise Profile of Local Artists and Funds for Charity

Front Row : Jeremy Jackson

Art, charity and travel have been combined in a unique collaborative project launched by Woodbury-based Jeremy Jackson with an illustrious career as an artist, writer and honorary pastor and former public relations executive spanning 30 years. Despite retiring six years ago, flamboyant Jeremy is far from taking it easy and his latest new venture combines two of his greatest passions – paintings and people.  As well as supporting a charity that helps orphaned and abandoned children in Tanzania, philanthropic Jeremy has now launched a new commercial business that will help raise funds for people with ear disease and deafness in Nepal.  The new venture, AventArt, will see Jeremy partner with gifted British artists across the UK to not only raise their profile but also much-needed money for the needy.  The first 7 artists signed-up are all based in Devon & Cornwall.

Jeremy says: “I want to showcase the high-quality work of living artists; whether amateurs who wish to move into a professional status or more established artists seeking wider notability.  AventArt is set to create a real buzz in the world of fine arts that will benefit many. It will inspire and delight – we are in the business of celebrating beauty – beauty of the human spirit and of the world around us.”

Jeremy’s latest project was, in part, inspired by local anaesthetist Charlie Collins who is raising money to pay for a hospital for the EarAid charity in Nepal. Jeremy, whose fundraising ventures have included a walk from Exeter to Land’s End and, is a great believer in business giving back to the community.  He says: “I felt I couldn't ask for any more sponsorship, so really another walk was out of the question.  So I decided instead to start a business which will be a commercial enterprise, with a percentage of the revenue going to charity.”

In a further development of the AventArt brand, two of the artists to join the project, Devon-based Peter Goodhall and Rebecca de Mendonça, are hosting a series of painting breaks in Italy during June and July this year.  Rebecca, from Exeter, and Sidmouth-based Peter are both experienced tutors who will be helping their students to brush up on a range of techniques, whatever their ability.  Each tutor will provide four hours of structured tutorial sessions each day in the stunning UNESCO World Heritage city of Ferrara.  Students will paint al fresco in the cool of the delightful hotel courtyard as well as having the opportunity of exploring the city, taking sketch books and boards to draw and paint new and exciting locations as the fancy takes them.

Rebecca has worked with some highly creative people, on some fascinating projects. These include sculpting the famous ceiling in Harrods food hall and producing work for Warwick Castle museum and Madame Tussaud's.

Peter works from his studio located on a Devon cliff-top; an idyllic and inspirational setting for his specialist art. His oil paintings of nudes in water concentrate on the sensual forms and patterns trying to capture the shimmering movements before they disappear.

To find out more about the artists go to www.aventart.com.  For full information about painting breaks visit: www.aventholidays.com or email Liz at: enquiries@aventholidays.com

Investment Management Company is First to Host Corporate Event at New Plymouth Restaurant

L – R: The Lord Mayor Michael Wright 

Brian James, Head of Office Brewin Dolphin Plymouth

Councillor Mrs Mary Aspinal

William Wills

Local wealth management company, Brewin Dolphin Plymouth based in Langage Business Park, was the first in the City to host a corporate client event at the newly opened Rhodes @ The Dome Restaurant on the Hoe.  The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Michael Wright joined 200 guests to celebrate the company’s 250th anniversary.  

Clients, dignitaries and associates were welcomed with wine and canapés prepared by celebrity chef and restaurateur Gary Rhodes and his dedicated team of professionals.  Brian James Head of Office Brewin Dolphin Plymouth gave a welcome address looking back at Brewin Dolphin’s long history as one of the founding firms of The London Stock Exchange and their original links to an old Devonian company, Westlake & Co. which was established 150 years’ ago in George Street Chambers by Francis Hole Westlake.

Brian James Divisional Director – Brewin Dolphin Plymouth says: “To be in business for 250 years is a feat that very few firms accomplish.  Our success is built on time-honoured values – relationships built on trust and confidence, bespoke service and the desire to accommodate each client’s priorities and aspirations.  Staying true to these traditions gives us a strong platform for continued growth.  As a result we wanted to celebrate this extraordinary milestone at a special venue and we were delighted when Rhodes @ The Dome were able to accommodate us.  The food was delicious and Gary Rhodes and his team were both professional and friendly.  The feedback from our guests on the new restaurant was extremely positive and very complimentary.”

Captain Charles Howeson RNR, Chairman of the Plymouth Area Business Council (PABC) spoke on behalf of the whole business community and private sector stressing the historic significance of the occasion and the values and local roots represented by Brewin Dolphin as a major stakeholder in the City of Plymouth.

He commented that "Brewin Dolphin represent all that's best in a huge financial concern that has kept closely aligned to the service values associated with its founding fathers and local roots, namely a very personal specialist service to its customers combining great care and attention in all that they do around the complex world of the provision of financial services advice."  He continued by saying that: "The whole Plymouth Business Community were proud and grateful to have Brewin Dolphin still here with offices in the City, 250 years after being founded, and 150 years after its Westlake offices were first opened".  He concluded by saying that "This represented a symbolic and historic record for which Plymouth is undoubtedly deeply honoured.”

www.brewin.co.uk/plymouth 

Barristers’ Chambers Fundraise For Medical Charity

St. John’s Chambers based in Victoria Street and the largest Set in the South West with over 80 barristers, host a ball in aid of their ‘Charity of the Year’ Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) which is celebrating its 30^th anniversary.

The evening raised funds of more than £6,000 for the independent charity, which promotes better patient safety and justice for people who have been affected by a medical accident.  Earlier this year the chambers organised a golf day at The Bristol Golf Club sponsored by Withy King which raised £4,000, bringing the total monies to-date to over £10,000 for this worthy cause.

Foot Anstey, Frenkel Topping and Wesleyan for Lawyers were the main sponsors of the event held at The Marriott Royal Hotel.  Supported by the ‘good and the great’ of Bristol, the Ball attracted more than 180 guests who enjoyed a drinks reception, dinner and live music from ‘Limited Edition’.  

Derek Jenkins, Chief Executive St. John’s Chambers says: “We feel that it is important to put something back into the community and the monies raised for AvMA has surpassed all our expectations.  Our expanding Clinical Negligence team is developing a strong reputation for its excellent service across the region which has been recognised by Chambers UK 2012, so we felt it appropriate to support a medical charity. The event was well received and I want to take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors, supporters and local businesses for their generosity in donating such wonderful prizes for the charity raffle.”

Peter Walsh Chief Executive AvMA says: “The funds raised for AvMA by St. John’s Chambers will directly support local families and patients across the South West who have been traumatised by a medical accident and will help to ensure that patient safety remains high on the agenda in the region. Without the tireless fundraising efforts of St John’s Chambers and others like them the impact of AvMA’s patient safety work would be significantly reduced and we are hugely grateful to them”.

www.stjohnschambers.co.uk

Healthcare Interior Design Company Organises a Nationwide Charity Fundraiser

Access 21 Care Interiors offering interior design exclusively for the care sector and specialists in dementia design created a fundraising activity involving their suppliers across England to raise funds for Alzheimer's Society.

The Surbiton-based business works with clients across the UK designing across a full range of care schemes including general/extra care, nursing, learning disabilities, supported living, palliative and dementia.  The company is well known for its style of creating a ‘home from home’ atmosphere, ensuring optimum comfort and safety for residents, whilst avoiding an institutional look and feel by offering a relaxing and stimulating environment.  

Eda Brooks, Projects Director of Access 21 came up with the innovative idea of inviting their suppliers to join in a fundraising activity with a difference.  She donated £10 in cash to each of the company’s 10 main contacts, inviting them to use the funds to create an innovative and fun way of raising further funds for this worthy cause.  The fundraising campaign which took place at business premises across the country raised over £500 in total for the Alzheimer's Society.  As an added incentive Access 21 also offered a prize of £25 worth of M&S vouchers to the most creative money spinner.  The overall winner was Mark Dean and the team at Taplow-based furniture and office supplies company, Jolly Office Limited.  Mark got his customers in a spin by setting up a roulette wheel at their Head Office in  Taplow and inviting visitors to donate a £1 a go for the chance to win £20 in cash if their selected number came up. 

Eda Brooks Projects Director, Access 21 Care Interiors says: “We believe that it is important for businesses to give back to the community and this was a great way of involving our national contacts.  In view of the fact that we are designers working exclusively for the healthcare sector with specialist knowledge in dementia, the Alzheimer's Society was a natural choice.  The idea was well received with our suppliers and created a great team spirit.  The charity was very grateful not only for the much needed funds but also that this helped to raise their profile nationwide.” 

Anita Avery, Community Fundraiser, Alzheimer’s Society, South East Office says: “We are very grateful to Access 21 Care Interiors for not only raising over £500 but helping to raise awareness about dementia.  Currently 1 in 3 people over 65 years of age will develop dementia.  The support services that we are able to offer people with dementia and their loved ones in our local communities, relies heavily on fundraising events such as this.   We would like to thank Access 21, their suppliers and clients for enabling us to continue providing that support.”

www.a21interiors.co.uk