Join & Connect

If you’ve survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday with your bank balance intact, here’s a bit of good news… today it’s “Giving Tuesday” and it’s absolutely free. Today you’re invited to give back – to your school, your community, your friends, anyone really, who you think you’d like to shower with a little attention…

Giving Tuesday is ‘a global day of giving fuelled by the power of social media and collaboration’. So as we kick-start the giving season, we’re inviting you to join in – share your voice, a gift, a donation, or simply share the sentiment. And don’t forget, as we race towards our final Hub Dot event of the year, you can help us 'make someone happy' at our Christmas gathering with a wish for Alchemy for someone you know could do with a bit of help. What easier way to give back!

Here, as a little inspiration, are just some of the many women in the Hub Dot community, doing amazing things to ‘give back’ every day. Tell us what you’ve been doing today in the comments section. Happy #GivingTuesday!

CJ Bowry: Sal's Shoes

“There are an estimated 300 million bare feet children in the world. In many countries around the world you cannot go to school, and access an often free education system, if you do not own a pair of school shoes. 

I have a son called Sal. Just under 3 years ago, armed with a bag of his outgrown, but not outworn, shoes and unable to find a charity that could help, I decided to cut out the middle man and send the shoes directly to some kids I knew in need. Quite unexpectedly I received back a photograph of a little boy on a hospital ward in Zambia wearing Sal's very first pair of shoes - Sal’s pair of shoes had become those of another.

I started collecting more pre-loved children’s shoes from family and friends and by harnessing social media for a good cause, word spread and soon I was inundated with pairs of barely worn shoes; the charity ‘Sal’s Shoes’ had been born.

Just under 3 years on we have now collected over 100,000 pairs of children's shoes and found them new feet in 32 countries around the world including in the UK. Sal's Shoes are now walking again in rural and urban areas, in orphanages and hospitals, in refugee camps and schools. Pre-played football boots are back on the pitch on the feet of children who may otherwise only ever dream of owning a pair.

I think my mother's generation gave us the conviction that we can achieve whatever we set our minds to. I know my generation, in this era of the smartphone, has given me the ability to run a charity from my phone, in between being a mum, working part time, being a wife, having fun with my friends and spending time with my family.

I don’t actually think we can change the world; but if we all play our part, I know we can certainly make a difference…”

Find out more about Sal’s shoes.

Samantha Moyo: Morning Gloryville

“The Gloryville Effect’ is our way of taking positive action when the world needs it the most. It’s about taking matters that deeply hurt us into our own hands. It’s about inspiring grassroots movements and every-day people to lead the way. We are raising funds to help us visit refugee camps, divided communities and poverty-stricken areas FOR FREE. We will spread smiles, cuddles, play, moments of joy, transformation and hope.

We are partnering with reputable and experienced charities like Peace Direct and Love Support Unite who already have a lot of experience on the ground, so we approach the charitable element of our work in a sensitive and helpful ways. Find out more on our Indiegogo page”

#thegloryvilleeffect

Claire Elsdon: Pikilily

“In 2012, I quit my job and set off on a motorcycle adventure, spending a year riding solo from Egypt to South Africa. During the journey, I realised that the lifespan of my motorcycle would inevitably have a close correlation with my own, especially in such challenging African terrain, so became a passionate obsessive about the art of motorcycle maintenance.

In Malawi, I was invited to help a charity, which was completely reliant on its 80 strong fleet of bikes for their operations but were nearly broken by excessive running costs.  At first I had no idea what the problem might be, but as soon as I took a look at the bikes, I realised what the issue was: there was no maintenance practice being carried out at all.  In fact, in Chichewa, the main language of Malawi, there is no word for "maintenance", only "repair". 

I designed and ran a maintenance training workshop for staff all over the country called "Love Your Motorcycle", which helped reduce their fleet running costs by 60%.  The staff loved learning new skills to keep their bikes running in tip top condition so they could visit their clients without so many breakdowns and my inner geek loved sharing my knowledge to help! 

Fast-forward 2 years to 2015... In May of this year, I was invited to Songea, Southern Tanzania, to train mobile midwives how to look after their motorcycles.  This is when I discovered the burgeoning crisis amongst the bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) riders: in Tanzania as many as 80% of hospital admissions are due to motorcycle crashes, mainly due to poor maintenance and road awareness, a situation that is being mirrored across many countries in Africa.  I knew I had to help. 

Tackling this has become my mission and my passion.  And so, in September 2015, Pikilily was born.  Now, I live and work in Mwanza, Tanzania, where we run workshops on road safety and motorcycle maintenance, and have set up “hubs” run by local women.”

Fabiola Marin: The Marylebone Project

"I believe that all human beings have the right to a good quality of life, regardless of their circumstances, background, ethnicity, or ‘mistakes’ made. As an immigrant myself, I know only too well that it isn’t easy to try to fit in when you’re struggling to speak the language, studying, and working long hours to make ends meet. Faith that you will make it is sometimes in short supply.

Two years ago I joined the Steering Committee for one of the employee networks at work.  During the past year, I’ve focused on creating connections between the company and The Marylebone Project – one of the largest women’s hostels in the UK. They provide support for women often affected by domestic violence, substance misuse, unemployment and mental health issues. Whatever their story, they all want the same ending: self-esteem, employment, and independent living.

I’ve loved working with an extraordinary group of women who simply needed someone to believe in them, to help them achieve their goals, and to celebrate those small wins with them. In the past year alone, we’ve secured 4 work experience placements with our restaurant services provider, which has resulted in 2 job offers, and helped raise the profile of the project’s own social enterprise, Munch in Marylebone. Through the project, women have taken part in training programmes on how to start their own businesses, and hosted fairs to sell produce they have made.

A strong support group of people and friends around you, who can build your confidence, lift your spirits, listen to you, and provide advice, can make all the difference. This is what I try to create for the women in the project. To me it’s not rocket science – they are so close to our offices and we each enrich the community in our own way.

My boss trusts me and gives me confidence to speak to colleagues to get them interested in becoming involved. I am humbled by our achievements and the genuine responses of people wanting to make a difference. I always tell people to tap into their own connections – every person has a diverse and complex network of friends, colleagues and acquaintances. To me it’s a simple process of connecting the dots and letting the magic happen!"