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HAT TRICK FOR CRYSTAL PEAKS-CONNEXIONS-SHEFFIELD CATHEDRAL ARCHER PROJECT!
What a Christmas Present! Forget about the frankincense & myrrh, it was “Gold” that resulted from a submission called ‘The Big Sleep In’ when Shopping Centre Crystal Peaks and their Tickhill based PR agency, Connexions PR & Marketing won outright the prestigious Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Pride ‘Gold Award’ 2007/8 for their work with the homeless in association with Sheffield Cathedrals’ ‘Archer Project’.
 
The black tie ceremony held recently at The Queens Hotel, Leeds, saw television personality and news reader Harry Gration announce and present the newly created and highly influential ‘Corporate Responsibility’ category for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to Centre Manager, Chris Jones and Connexions PR’s Managing Director Darryl Dawson. The Archer Project is a City base and food supplier for the homeless, ‘roofless’ and some of society’s highly vulnerable adults. A place in which individuals can access health provision, hygiene facilities, free and subsidised food, basic education, and advice (counselling) on alcohol and drug abuse, housing, benefits and street worker aid (i.e. selling ‘The Big Issue’) to get themselves back on their feet. The project costs approximately £225,000 per annum to run. Darryl Dawson, Connexions PR & Marketing’s Managing Director said, “Our much praised recognition for the corporate responsibility category is not just down to individuals but a credit to teamwork that connected the kind hearted, deep pocketed people of South Sheffield. From the generosity of folk who sponsored us, donated, shared or gave time, we salute you. From the outset our objectives were to financially assist The Archer Project by doing what we are renowned for; in this case we had 53 people undertaking a ‘night on the tiles sleep-in’ at Crystal Peaks from 7 p.m. until 6.30 a.m. closely followed by a ‘big sleep out’ under the porch of the Cathedral too – complete with chiming bells on each and every quarter, so little real sleep, but a resounding success in a different way - money for the homeless!”
He added, “I thought being short-listed was a tremendous achievement but gaining a Gold Award is absolutely fantastic. That means our work has been judged to be of the highest standards by leading PR experts and amongst the best in our area. The hat trick? Well it’s the first time there has ever been a ‘Corporate Responsibility’ category and the first time we’ve ever entered, but perhaps what’s even more surprising, there was only our entry short listed, ours, so yes, we’re delighted to have won.” Colin Farrington, CIPR Director General and Chairman of the Judges, said: “To reach the Pride Awards short list is a remarkable achievement as year on year the quantity and quality of entries increases and competition gets stronger. The finalists are testament to the good PR work going on outside of London and across sectors. They should feel proud of their and their chosen profession’s invaluable contribution to business and society.”
Photo One Information: “Pure Gold”Crystal Peaks’ Centre Manager, Chris Jones with Connexions PR & Marketing Managing Director, Darryl Dawson.
Photo Two Information: “Proud as Peacocks”Crystal Peaks’ Management PA Kim Jones and Sheffield Cathedrals Archer Project Fund Raiser Tracy Viner with Connexions PR & Marketing Darryl Dawson. |
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