You know those moments when you come across something and think “why isn’t everyone talking about this?” 

That’s exactly what happened when we met ethical office clearance UK charity and Social Enterprise Waste to Wonder Worldwide.

How it works

Businesses clear out offices all the time. New premises, rebrand, downsizing, whatever. And typically, that furniture ends up in one of two places: landfill or some expensive storage unit gathering dust.

Waste to Wonder Worldwide had a better idea.

They collect that furniture – chairs, desks, filing cabinets, the lot – and redistribute it to schools and charities that desperately need it. We’re not talking small numbers here. They’ve donated £49 million worth of furniture to over 1,500 schools across 47 countries.

Your old office chairs? They’re now in a classroom in Cameroon. Those desks you were going to skip? They’re helping kids learn in communities that would never have access to them otherwise.

The carbon savings? Over 1.3 million kilograms on some projects alone.

They’ve won awards (Green World Awards, the Prove It Social Impact Award and been named one of the UAE’s Future100 Social Impact Innovators), they work with big name clients, and they’ve built something that genuinely changes lives.

When we found out about them, we reached out and offered to help get more eyes on what they’re doing. More businesses need to know this option exists.

What we’re doing

We’re helping them get noticed – building their social presence, creating content that shows the real impact of what they do, and connecting them with businesses who’ve got furniture going spare and don’t know what to do with it.

Most companies don’t even know Waste to Wonder Worldwide exists. They think it’s skip or storage. Two options.

There’s a third option that costs less, saves the planet, and changes lives.

If you’re clearing an office

Moving premises? Refurbing? Got 24 chairs or 2,400 workstations you need gone?

Talk to Waste to Wonder Worldwide. They’ll collect it, redistribute it to schools and charities globally, and send you a full report on the carbon savings and where everything ended up.

Your old furniture becomes someone’s classroom. Someone’s learning space. Someone’s chance at an education they wouldn’t have had otherwise. 

Your ‘waste’ becomes someone’s wonder.

24 fingers: Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to another episode of 24 Questions. I’m Emma Goode, founder of Essex digital marketing agency 24 fingers, and I’m absolutely delighted to be joined today by the wonderful Jill Poet of the Organisation of Responsible Businesses. Jill is someone I often refer to as the person I want to be when I grow up in business, so this is going to be a fantastic conversation.

Jill Poet: Thank you for that lovely introduction, Emma. It’s a real pleasure to be here with you today, and I have to say, I think you’re already pretty grown up and doing incredibly well in business.

24 fingers: That’s very kind of you to say. So Jill, before we dive into our 24 questions, tell us a bit about yourself and your background.

Jill Poet: Well, my background is in management accountancy, which I did for about 40 years working with micro and small businesses. I’m passionate about small businesses, and whilst I don’t do much accountancy work now apart from a few exceptions, I still handle my own company accounts and have one little payroll client that I’ve been doing forever.

My main business now is the Organisation for Responsible Businesses, which is my absolute passion. I also have another website business called Healthy Life Essex which is packed with information helping people live happier, healthier, greener lifestyles.

24 fingers: That sounds fascinating. Tell me more about the Organisation for Responsible Businesses.

Jill Poet: The Organisation for Responsible Businesses, or ORB for short since it’s a bit of a mouthful, is almost the same concept as Healthy Life Essex but for businesses. We’re encouraging small businesses from sole proprietors upwards to care about people, care about the environment, be happier, do all the right things, but still be profitable and work efficiently.

We operate as a membership organisation. It’s now a member-owned not-for-profit national organisation, and we offer both membership and certification options. I’m very proud of what we’ve built.

24 fingers: That’s incredible, and I’m proud to be a member myself. Now let’s kick off with our first question – what’s your favourite word?

Jill Poet: Authentic, I think.

24 fingers: Perfect. What gets you up in the morning?

Jill Poet: Well, to be clear, I’ll be 75 next month, and one of my concessions to being older is that getting up early isn’t necessarily one of them. I love what I do and I’m passionate about it, but unless I’ve got something really important on, I wake up when I wake up, potter about, have coffee and juice in bed, and read for a little while. It’s quite civilised really. Then I’m at my desk, driving this business forward that we’ve built.

24 fingers: I love that approach to work-life balance. What do you honestly think of social media?

Jill Poet: I like LinkedIn. You can criticise it, but it’s still very honest and business-orientated for the most part. You do get some silly things on there, but mostly I quite like it.

I’m not personally interested in all the other platforms, and what social media is doing on a personal basis for a lot of people, I think it’s just horrendous. I steer clear of it. I think it’s particularly worrying for young people – there needs to be so much more control.

24 fingers: I completely agree with you on that. Are you a Kindle or physical books person?

Jill Poet: Both. We actually have quite an extensive library in our lounge, so Mike and I both love hard copy books. But of course, I love the convenience of the Kindle as well, the fact that you can take it anywhere – holidays, train journeys, whatever. So yes, definitely both.

24 fingers: I’m not quite sure what industry to put you in, but what would you say is the biggest challenge facing your industry?

Jill Poet: That’s an interesting question because I don’t neatly fit into any industry. Whenever I get those tick boxes that say “select your sector,” it’s nearly always “other.”

Some people might say I’m in the sustainability industry, and I tend to avoid being put into that because we’re not consultants. But even more so, what bothers me is that when most people talk about sustainability, they’re talking about environmental sustainability. Actually, the environment is a big part of what we talk about – it’s one of the important pillars – but it’s just one of the pillars.

I think we need to take a very holistic approach to sustainability, and of course, sustainability in terms of business starts with sustaining the business for the long term.

24 fingers: What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Jill Poet: I can remember having those questions, and it was quite odd because, being that much older, it was very much expected that a girl would get happily married and have kids. Now I did get married and have kids very early, and yet when anyone asked me that when I was younger, I didn’t define myself by that. I always just used to say I just wanted to be happy.

24 fingers: That’s beautiful. What led you to your current career then?

Jill Poet: It was a progression. As I said, my background was working with small businesses on the profitability, accountability, and governance side of things, but I was very passionate about small businesses.

We’d launched Healthy Life Essex and converted that to a community interest company. I was going to a lot of meetings in the early 2000s where there was lots of talk about corporate social responsibility, but it was all very much corporate-focused.

With my small business passion, I kept thinking, “What about small businesses. They need to be doing this as well.” And no one was talking about that. When we looked around, there wasn’t anyone addressing it, so we thought we’d better plug that gap in the market.

24 fingers: That’s fantastic forward-thinking. Your favourite word was authentic – can you use it in a sentence please?

Jill Poet: I do wish more good businesses would talk about the good things that they’re doing in their marketing, on social media, on their websites. Obviously, they always need to be authentic about it, but it’s important to share that goodness.

24 fingers: And now can you make it rhyme?

Jill Poet: Well, if I did, it would be something like “If you don’t use authentic in your marketing, then you must be a bit of a…” and I’ll leave it to the audience to work that one out.

24 fingers: I love it. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Jill Poet: I probably would advise myself not to have got married as young as I did. I quite liked being a wife and a mother, but I just made a very bad decision in the person I married as my younger self. I don’t think I really understood what love was all about. I thought you fell in love, got married and had children – I didn’t realise it was a bit more complicated than that.

24 fingers: We can discuss our divorce stories later. What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

Jill Poet: I’ve been on this planet for nearly 75 years, and lots of people have done lots of lovely things. Nice things can be something big, or it can be something like just a touch on the arm to say “I’ve got your back.”

Over the years there have been so many nice things, big things and little things, and I can’t think of any one thing that I would say is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done.

24 fingers: I think you’re very generous as a person, Jill. You always want to help somebody or go that extra mile to support and encourage, so I’m sure the universe is giving you that back – you deserve it. What’s been your career-defining moment? You might not have had it yet.

Jill Poet: Perhaps I haven’t yet, because when we launched, we were so way ahead of the field, and it was just after the crash. Getting that traction when we’d also got financial challenges because of the situation at the time was quite difficult.

There have been some defining moments – acknowledgements, awards, I’ve published a book – but I still think the major defining moment is yet to come in terms of national recognition. The membership and certification in particular – we have a certification that’s a great alternative to B Corp for anyone who knows what B Corp is. Getting that national acknowledgement would be the main thing I’d love to see.

24 fingers: No doubt you’ll achieve it. If you won a big award of some kind, who would you thank? I think I might know the answer to this.

Jill Poet: Actually, it would be my husband Mike for always being there and supporting me. We very nearly pulled the plug on the business in the very early days because of the financial situation. I didn’t have to tell him much about it – I didn’t tell him until a few months later – but I knew that however bad it was, even if we had to sell the house and live in a caravan, he would support me. Whatever has happened, he’s always been supportive.

24 fingers: That’s wonderful. Can you tell us your time-saver of the day please?

Jill Poet: It’s probably totally different to what most people will say, but for me, my time-saver is making sure that I go through and clear my emails throughout the day. Not just at two particular times, but not looking at it every single second either.

I find that if I don’t keep my email inbox cleared, then I get a backlog, I miss things, I get frustrated. So for me, it’s important that I do that, whereas other people think “don’t look at your emails.”

24 fingers: Email is definitely a beast that has to be tamed. Where do you see your industry in 24 months?

Jill Poet: Well, it depends how we define our industry, doesn’t it. If I think about it in terms of holistic sustainability, I would like to think it’s getting more traction.

It’s challenging because the last year or two has been going in the wrong direction because of external factors. All I can say is that those of us in this sector just need to keep driving it and keep positive.

24 fingers: Where were you 24 months ago?

Jill Poet: I’m not sure that a great deal has changed actually in terms of the last two years. Three years ago there was a big change, and that was when we gifted the company to the membership.

24 fingers: That’s such an interesting decision. Tell us more about that.

Jill Poet: Mike and I launched it in 2010 as a normal limited company, but we wanted to protect the legacy of the company. So in 2022, actually on my 72nd birthday, we gifted the company to the membership.

We incorporated a new company limited by guarantee with not-for-profit articles, transferred the existing company assets across, and then gifted it to the membership. That was to protect the legacy of the company and ensure that focus on small businesses in particular.

Our articles of association even have some processes built in that we need to retain to protect the integrity of the membership. We probably could have a lot more members and a lot more money coming in if we removed those, but it would have no real value. That goes back to authenticity and core values.

24 fingers: If you could have a 24-minute Zoom chat with anybody living or dead, who would it be?

Jill Poet: I think it would be Jamie Oliver, which might sound a really strange choice, but I find him fascinating. I was thinking David Attenborough first, which would be phenomenal, but actually Jamie is so much fun and the way he picks up these causes he’s clearly absolutely passionate about and throws his all into them. I just think it would be a lot of fun, and I love his approach.

24 fingers: And he’s from Essex.

Jill Poet: And he’s from Essex, yes, and I like a lot of his recipes too.

24 fingers: What’s one word you’d like people to describe you with?

Jill Poet: Tenacious, I think, probably.

24 fingers: Perfect. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?

Jill Poet: I suppose “a tenacious leader in the field.”

24 fingers: What’s your favourite social media campaign. I know you’re not huge on social media, but is there something that’s struck you?

Jill Poet: I don’t really look at social media campaigns. I’m on LinkedIn, but in terms of the other platforms, I just don’t go on them.

One campaign that’s been important though is the whole “pay in 30 days” campaign. There’s just been an announcement from the government that they’re going to do something about it finally and put more powers in place. Whatever type of small business you have, whatever sector, it’s just so important that we get proper payment terms in place.

24 fingers: I absolutely agree with that. What’s been the best part of your day?

Jill Poet: I can’t tell you that we’re still recording.

24 fingers: Hahaha. Finally, is there anything you’d like to plug?

Jill Poet: I think the thing I’d say is we have a little five minute questionnaire that anyone can do. There’s no cost, no commitment. We call it “perfectly imperfect” because in five minutes you can’t cover everything. But it’s a thought-provoking thing – you get immediate feedback responses about how you operate your business, and there’ll be something within that that makes you go “Oh, I didn’t think about that.”

24 fingers: What’s the link for anybody wanting to do that?

Jill Poet: It’s questionnaire.orbuk.org.uk – that’s O-R-B-U-K dot org dot uk.

24 fingers: I’ll put that in the comments. Jill, thank you so much. It’s been wonderful to catch up – always inspiring. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I know this isn’t the end for ORB, this is just the middle. It’s a fantastic organisation, one that I’m proud to be part of. Thank you so much for your time.

Jill Poet: Thank you Emma, it’s been an absolute pleasure to be here, and it’s great that you’re part of our organisation. Thank you.

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week takes place between 15 and 21 May, and the theme is anxiety. 

Feeling anxious from time to time can be perfectly normal, especially ahead of important life events. However, when we feel like that all the time, it can put a strain on our mental health. 

A survey by The Mental Health Foundation found 34% of UK adults felt anxious, while almost three in 10 people (29%) experienced stress  in the past month. 

The good news is: with a little help and support, our anxiety can be managed. This year’s campaign aims to increase awareness and understanding by providing information and advice on the things that can help prevent anxiety from becoming a problem. 

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek starts on 15 May. Join us in spreading the word about anxiety and the things that can help.

Find out how to get involved, download resources and read our tips about coping with feelings of anxiety https://t.co/L5MunpK0on #ToHelpMyAnxiety pic.twitter.com/7BGDhF91O4

— Mental Health Foundation (@mentalhealth) April 15, 2023

Every day, millions of people feel anxious for a wide variety of reasons, and being famous is no shield. Ryan Reynolds has spoken several times, including on social media, about his long battle with anxiety:

Ryan Reynolds has revealed that his anxiety got so bad at one point that he thought he was going ‘to die’ before a scheduled TV appearance. https://t.co/sioywMT9ZT

— Metro (@MetroUK) March 1, 2022

Prince Harry may have looked cool and collected at the Coronation, but he has also been very public about his anxiety: 

“It is okay to have depression, it is okay to have anxiety and it is okay to have an adjustment disorder. We need to improve the conversation. We all have mental health in the same way we all have physical health.” — Prince Harry #mentalhealth pic.twitter.com/sEYFkeoK3U

— BreakFree Rehabilitation Center (@BreakfreeRehab) May 8, 2023

WandaVision and Marvel star Elizabeth Olsen spoke to Variety about her panic attacks:

Elizabeth Olsen on Her ‘Embarrassing’ Marvel Scenes, Recovering From Panic Attacks and Whether She’s Still an ‘Aspiring Stoner’ https://t.co/2WZQb4p0Cn

— Variety (@Variety) October 3, 2022

Young tennis star Naomi Osaka’s career has been affected by her anxiety and she talked to Vogue about how she manages it: 

“As someone who suffers from anxiety, having a daily mechanism to help me cope has been really comforting,” says Naomi Osaka on the new series of meditations she’s recording for children https://t.co/rE64XUoI1l pic.twitter.com/T1eoieqCUH

— Vogue Runway (@VogueRunway) April 1, 2023

The pandemic and its aftermath put anxiety firmly in the spotlight, with almost every sector of society affected by an increase in anxiety.  Luckily, there are a lot of resources out there that can help. 

This #NationalStressAwarenessDay take a moment to learn some of the signs of stress. If you recognise any of these signs in yourself or someone you care about, visit our website to learn more and find some ideas for coping > https://t.co/HPkUhtpRdS pic.twitter.com/v3w1TwAsFv

— Mind (@MindCharity) November 3, 2021

Thanks to all at @stpatsfc for the support and helping us promote our positive mental health message 🙏🏼💜#HeadInTheGame https://t.co/l5yGRxRm2B

— Head In The Game (@HeadInTheGameIE) May 8, 2023

There are a range of charities supporting maternal mental health week this year, and by working together, we can make a positive impact on the lives of parents experiencing mental health challenges. #MHAW23 #strongertogether #togetherinachangingworld @PMHPUK pic.twitter.com/4tKjS23iQO

— DorPip (@dor_pip) May 3, 2023

You can get support from dedicated national organisation @AnxietyUK, as well as groups closer to wherever you are, from London-focused @GoodThinkingUK, to community groups in Manchester and Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside: 

What a superb effort from Community Groups and Organisations in North Manchester, bringing together some fabulous Free events, and supporting Mental Health Awareness Week @WHMmanchester #buildingstrongercommunities #MentalHealthAwareness pic.twitter.com/vAHZPtObW1

— Leonie WHM (@leonie_painter) May 8, 2023

Next week is Mental Health Awareness Week (15th – 21st May). This year’s theme is anxiety, which affects over 8 million people in UK. Throughout next week we will be raising awareness of the support available if you need help in managing your mental healthhttps://t.co/s9TlBWikqs pic.twitter.com/Ai75AVXlIA

— Groundwork in Cheshire, Lancashire & Merseyside (@GroundworkCLM) May 9, 2023

Anxiety can rear its head at any time in our lives. If you’re a student, @StudentMindsOrg can help with that exam pressure: 

It’s normal to feel stressed about your upcoming exams, but don’t forget that you aren’t alone. Adam reminds us that everyone’s in the same boat and it can help to work together. Read the rest of his blog: https://t.co/ETW86NXbGP pic.twitter.com/Yl3KupJsq1

— Student Minds (@StudentMindsOrg) May 7, 2023

While @TimetoChange aims to help anyone, from business owners to bus drivers, struggling with anxiety to open up: 

For someone experiencing anxiety, ‘small’ problems don’t always feel small.

If a friend seems anxious on #TimeToTalk Day, really listen and try not to minimise their concerns. pic.twitter.com/BzQxDiNGJg

— Time to Change (@TimetoChange) February 2, 2023

There are other ways to ease anxiety, using music: 

#QFQs we “spoke” to @spokeworld about making looking after your mental health as easy as listening to your favourite music https://t.co/33gTKLT6t7 – via @Maddyness_UK /

— Maddyness UK (@Maddyness_UK) May 9, 2023

Playing sport: 

After seeking sanctuary, football changed Wan’s life.

Wan is a refugee rights campaigner it’s tough work & looking after mental health is vital. Wan does this by playing ⚽️ with the UK’s first women’s FC of sanctuary.
⁣
What’re your tips for looking after your mental health? pic.twitter.com/4OGqTwyxoz

— City of Sanctuary UK 🧡 (@CityofSanctuary) May 8, 2023

And even volunteering 

Volunteering and supporting your community can help with your mental health and well-being. See Tobi’s story in the thread below. (1/3)#BigHelpOut #Volunteering #Kindness pic.twitter.com/BjjZviLsUp

— Random Acts – UK South (@RARepUKSouth) May 8, 2023

Want to show your support for Mental Health Awareness Week? Wear something green on Thursday 18th. 

Don’t forget to throw on your favourite green clothes on Thursday 18 May for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek 💚

Learn more about the resources you can use here: https://t.co/Cq4sKwm7g7 pic.twitter.com/iL1F32LGID

— Mental Health Foundation (@mentalhealth) May 4, 2023

Everyone gets anxious occasionally – even us. That’s why we’re banging the drum for organisations offering 24/7 help and support, while also keeping in mind a quote from the one and only Julie Andrews: “if you remain calm in the midst of great chaos, it is the surest guarantee that it will eventually subside”.

We’re proud supporters of all things community at 24 fingers, and the belief in collaboration is at the core of everything we do. So you can imagine how delighted we were when Emma Goode joined the Rotary Club of Brentwood à Becket as an associate member. 

On Monday 30th November, Emma became a member of Brentwood à Becket Rotary Club in a short ceremony during the club’s weekly meeting on Zoom when President Peter McAllister and members welcomed her into the club.

“I’m thrilled to have joined the Brentwood à Becket Rotary Club, and can’t wait to get involved in the great work it does, supporting local businesses and charities,” said Emma. “I’m really looking forward to becoming an active member of the club and doing my bit for the local community.”

Membership Chairman Ivan Armstrong said: “We are delighted that Emma has joined Rotary. When I first met her through the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, I could see that Emma could be a great asset to Rotary, with her warmth and enthusiasm to help her community and that she would enjoy being in Rotary.”

Brentwood à Becket is part of a worldwide organisation of over 1.2 million people with over 50,000 members in the UK alone. They all share the desire to work together to take action to bring lasting change in their communities , across the globe and in themselves, summed up by the motto “Service above Self”. At the same time, they build lasting friendships, use and develop their skills and relationships with other business people.

In Brentwood, the club is best known for the organisation of the Brentwood Half Marathon which has grown over 38 years to a major event with over 4,000 runners and has raised well over £1million. Because of the pandemic, 2021 will be the first year the event has not taken place but, for 2022 and beyond, the club is looking to find new partners to share the load of what is now a major year-long undertaking.

Rotary can also provide the opportunity for smaller businesses to expand their community involvement. Although the pandemic has restricted some of the community service and fund raising that Brentwood à Becket would normally be doing it has not stopped them providing much needed funding to local charities to adapt to the effect on their clients and services. At the same time support has been provided for recent international emergencies.

Brentwood à Becket  is a lively, active and successful club with a growing membership and, in more normal times, it meets weekly at the Marygreen Manor. Meetings will be held on Zoom until they are able to return there. If you want to learn more, you can contact the club at becketrotary@gmail.com. 

We’re 24 fingers, a digital marketing agency and a proud member of the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, Excel Business Networking Group, the Trusted Business Community and the Organisation for Responsible Businesses. If you’re feeling all fingers and thumbs with your online marketing, use our hands (and hearts and minds) to get extra digits on your bottom line. Book your free strategy call here.

Almost four months after it was created to support vulnerable and isolated local residents at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Brentwood Mutual Aid (BMA) has become a permanent fixture in the community, having been established as a recognised Charitable Trust. 

Co-founders Kat Waterhouse and Oliver Durose have been named Founder and Leader, and Founding Trustee respectively, while volunteers Gary Maxius and Lynn Connelly have been invited to join the Board of Trustees.

Since its launch on 22 March 2020, BMA has carried out over 3,000 individual tasks for residents, from shopping and delivering medication, to sourcing emergency food, dog walking, gardening tasks and running post office errands. 

It has also offered a befriending service, delivering elements of counselling, to benefit the most isolated, fulfilling the simple aim: “if something needs to happen, we can do it”.

BMA has forged strong partnerships with those organisations and people it needed to provide the most effective support, including Brentwood Borough Council, Daily Bread Café, Manna Meals, Peabody Trust, parish councils and local food banks.

BMA has also led a number of initiatives and, by working collaboratively with its partners, continues to enhance both what support can be provided to residents and how that support can be delivered most effectively.

BMA has quickly built up a vast, experienced network of volunteers, including 25 dedicated call handlers who are ready to listen and respond to the needs of residents, as well as business relationships and other partners, all working together to provide support in every corner of the Borough and in as many ways as possible. 

Registering BMA as a Charitable Trust has secured its future, and it will continue to provide support for the practical needs of residents – even after the pandemic is over – working closely with the majority of local agencies to ensure targeted support gets to where it is needed most.

“Having only lived in the Borough for four years prior to lockdown, I was completely oblivious to the level of need in our community,” said co-founder Kat Waterhouse. “BMA gave me a purpose throughout the pandemic as I was able to use my newly found free time in a valuable and rewarding way.  For this, I will always be thankful.

“I am immensely proud of each and every volunteer who not only gave up their time during lockdown, but who also committed to Brentwood Mutual Aid and our residents going forward, post-Covid. Without them, we would not have been able to ensure the future of BMA and most importantly, the support of our vulnerable neighbours.”

If you are a resident looking for help, an agency that would like to make referrals to BMA or if you want to become a volunteer, call 01277 424 953, email admin@brentwood-mutual-aid.org or visit the group’s Facebook page. 

There’s nothing like catching up with old and very good friends, and our Emma was delighted to do just that when she chatted to former publisher Lorraine Williams, who co-founded and runs The Thyroid Trust.

24 fingers: Good morning, everybody. It’s Emma here from 24 Fingers, a social media agency in Brentwood, in Essex. Today I’ve gone across the pond and I’m chatting to the lovely Lorraine Williams from The Thyroid Trust in Kent. Hi, Lorraine.

Lorraine: Hi, Emma. Thanks for having me.

24 fingers: Absolute pleasure. So this is really special for me. So Lorraine and I’ve known each other for over 20 years. We were trying to work it out this morning and we both look exactly the same. Well, we think we do anyway. Lorraine, if you’re ready I’m going to kick off – what’s your favourite word?

Lorraine: Okay, I had to think long and hard about this because I like lots of words. My favourite word in all the world is love.

24 fingers: Oh, love it. What gets you up in the morning?

Lorraine: Nowadays, it’s a sense of compelling purpose. Running The Thyroid Trust feels like important work. I am actually the only member of staff and there’s quite a lot to do. I wake up with my mind going through all the things that need to be done, leap up and get on with them. It motivates me a lot.

24 fingers: What do you truly honestly think of social media?

Lorraine: I truly and honestly totally love it. I think it’s fantastic. And, I’m old enough to remember life before there was social media. And growing up as a kid in the 1970s and 1980s, it’s quite difficult to find like-minded people and now that’s so easy. And it was quite difficult to find, sort of interesting cultural stuff, music, whatever now that’s really easy. I think you know what social media brings to society in terms of connecting us, making information readily available, is absolutely revolutionary, and I think it’s really exciting and I’m really into it. 

24 fingers: She’s a fan. So go and follow Lorraine on Twitter because she’s brilliant on there. 

Lorraine: I’m _LorraineW on Twitter, and the charity @ThyroidTrust on Twitter as well.

24 fingers: Go follow it. At the minute charities are really impacted by corona. What do you think is the biggest challenge to your industry, let’s just say for now, charity, I know that you’re a mindfulness practitioner as well. What do you think is the biggest impact/challenge for you?

Lorraine: Well, the complete uncertainty of the present situation, obviously, and that’s the same challenge facing everyone, an individual, an organisation and all sectors. But charities typically raise a lot of money from mass participation events, for example. And obviously, none of those are going ahead. And charities benefit when people feel reasonably comfortably well off and able to give and there’s not so many people in that comfortable situation at the moment. Yeah, it’s a whole untold future that we’re gonna have to navigate and we’re gonna have to think very nimbly. That’s challenging.

24 fingers: I’m sure you’ll do it. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Lorraine: I either wanted to be Prime Minister, or I wanted to be a dress designer. One of those two things.

24 fingers: What led you to your current career?

Lorraine: Well, I kind of bumbled into it if I’m completely honest. Again, talking about growing up, communications was always something that people told me I was good at, and I always enjoyed words. Maybe I must have dreamt of being a writer at one point, but that wasn’t something that I had any idea you could actually make a living at. We were growing up, we didn’t have much money and, like I said, I felt quite bored a lot of the time as a child. So I think my primary motivators when I started my career were to be A not bored and B not poor. I threw myself into London working life as you did Emma, with those two things really driving me. I worked in publishing for 10 years, I started out doing media sales all the way up to the publisher. 

About 10 years in, I had a bit of an epiphany that I wanted to do something a bit more worthwhile, a bit more meaningful. I was also very excited by what was at the time, new emerging digital technologies. So I made a career shift and started working for organisations that were trying to do some good in the world and particularly using new technologies. I ended up working for some quite big charities, doing fundraising, marketing. In terms of how I ended up where I am now doing what I am now, basically, I got ill. 

My thyroid condition knocked me utterly sideways for about 18 months, and stopped me from being able to work. I ended up doing bits and pieces of freelance work using the various skills that I’ve got. I started running a support group for thyroid patients because I wanted there to be one and there wasn’t. Run that for a few years as a volunteer and ended up with enough people who carried on with that. Then about two years after I stopped being involved, we were offered funding to set up the charity group. I was asked to lead it, which was a huge honour. It seemed to fit my skill set and was something I’m very passionate about. So, here we are.

24 fingers: At this point, I have to say, Lorraine was a fantastic media salesperson, and also she was a great publisher as well. We worked in the West End, there were budgets, there was time, there were expense accounts and we sat in the pub most afternoons.

Lorraine: There were a lot of long lunches…

24 fingers: There were long lunches, late nights and yeah, it was bloody amazing. I loved it.

Lorraine:  It was great fun. We worked hard and we played hard. So cliche but it was good fun.

24 fingers: Exactly, good memories. So your favourite word was love. Can you use it in a sentence?

Lorraine: Yes, I can. Love is all around, love is all there is.

24 fingers: Very good. I think that was in Love Actually, actually…

Lorraine: Oh god.

24 fingers: No, no, no, it sounds like it might well be, I don’t know. Can you make your word rhyme?

Lorraine: Yes I can: love is all around, love is all there is, I’m you and you’re me, life is simply bliss. I told you I’m into mindful stuff as well. I thought I’d warn you about that.

24 fingers: That was good. What advice would you give to your younger bored self?

Lorraine: I wish that somebody had said to me or I would say to myself: “you can do anything” because I had no idea. I think that’s the best thing anybody can say to a young person, really do what you want to do. Don’t be worried about being bored, don’t be worried about being poor, because life is abundant and varied and go out there and do the things you want to do.

24 fingers: You don’t realise it at the time, do you?

Lorraine: No, no idea.

24 fingers: What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

Lorraine: It has to be a benefactor who suggested to us, that we set up The Thyroid Trust and basically made it possible for my role to be paid and has been fantastically supportive from the beginning and continues to be. That’s incredible because we wouldn’t have the charity without that faith and that financial support. I know he wants to remain anonymous, but what he’s done for us is incredible.

24 fingers: Amazing.  Tell us, though you may not have had it yet, what’s been your career-defining moment?

Lorraine: No, unfortunately being ill. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now, if that hadn’t happened. That sounds a bit grim, doesn’t it?

24 fingers: No, no.

Lorraine: But it has led me to really interesting and meaningful work, and it’s enabled me to help other people. So it’s what they say every cloud has a silver lining. I wouldn’t wish being ill on anybody or myself but yes, it’s life’s rich tapestry isn’t it? It has defined the path I’ve ended up taking. 

24 fingers: Definitely on that because challenges in my life has definitely led to some really great things. At the time it didn’t feel like that. So if you won a big award of some kind, who would you thank?

Lorraine: Well, if that were ever to happen, there would be so many people to thank. First of all, I’d say my husband for just being the most amazing support and standing by me, and my family for giving me some kind of moral compass, which has guided me through my life and been really important. A lot of people don’t come from families that have that sort of solid, something that gives you strength to get through things. I think that’s really important. And then whatever I was ever to win an award for, if I ever did, whatever team of people I was working with, would have done the lion’s share of the work, I’m sure. And so there would be a long list of people that I have worked with up to today.

24 fingers: 100%.

Lorraine: I feel like I’ve just won an award Emma, that felt a really weird experience. I’m filled with gratitude and love now. You’ll have to send some chocolate or something as a pretend award.

24 fingers: We’ll just call you Gywnnie. Can you give us a timesaver of the day?

Lorraine: Yes, meditate. Meditate for 20 minutes. However pressurised your life might feel, however much you think you have to do, make the time to do a little bit of mindfulness practice. And actually, even if you really literally can’t spare 20 minutes, do like a little three-minute meditation or something because it’s like plugging yourself into the universe and re-energising you. Everything is clearer, time opens up. So I can’t recommend meditation highly enough. And just to emphasise that it doesn’t have to be done in a particular way for a particular amount of time. There’s lots of different ways that you can practice mindfulness meditation in your life. It’s really worth finding a way that works for you and doing something regularly helps.

24 fingers: I think those daily behaviours really make a difference, don’t they?

Lorraine: Yeah, absolutely. We did a self care event recently for The Thyroid Trust, we had a wonderful woman called Michelle who came. She’s a yoga teacher, but she had us doing self massage, and like a lot of people in the group are really not very well and a bit older so you had to do like chair yoga, and then some breathing exercises and meditation. So use of those self care practices is really valuable. – 

24 fingers: Especially right now, you know what I mean.

Lorraine: Yeah, it’s easy to just get wrapped up in your head and think of all these other things to do. And these are the things I’m not happy about, that is draining. It takes a lot out of you. So, just to show it has an effect.

24 fingers: Where do you see your charity or your industry in 24 months?

Lorraine: Well it’s two separate questions, isn’t it? So, the industry is the charity sector. This has a very uncertain future. I suspect there might end up being fewer charities as people might have to merge and a lot of things will have to be done differently. In terms of The Thyroid Trust, I really hope that we will come through this and I believe that we can, because I believe that what we’re doing, we’re doing pretty well. We’re getting a lot of positive feedback and a lot of interest.

So I hope in 24 months we will be a little bit bigger and a little bit more secure. Well, actually, let me speak reality as I want it to be. I believe in 24 months we will be a secure, well-established, sustainable organisation, because I’ll be honest with you at the moment, it all feels quite precarious. We only completed our registration with the Charity Commission a year ago and the pandemic happened. Tough times ahead, but we’re determined.

24 fingers: You got this. Where were you 24 months ago?

Lorraine: We were about six months into our journey with The Thyroid Trust. So we’d created the brand, set up the website. And we’re still building boards, getting some really good medics and people with professional expertise on board. We were preparing for a big debate that was gonna happen in the House of Lords in June about thyroid treatment, which ended up leading to a huge amount of work for us. 

We were just sort of on the cusp of that, we were sitting thinking: “This debate is happening, it’s really important. Nobody else is sending parliamentarians detailed information about why it’s important, we must do this, start preparing the briefing for that”. Really just gearing up and it’s really important I was still working for a number of clients. I was doing some marketing stuff and building websites for people. I had more time in my social life and I think I didn’t quite know what was gonna hit me really. Two years later, here we are.

24 fingers: It’s great. What’s an interesting fact about the charity?

Lorraine: So, we’re talking about The Thyroid Trust, and I bet lots of people watching this, have no idea what that means, what a thyroid is. So your thyroid interesting fact, is a butterfly shaped gland, sits in your neck, and it controls every cell in your body. So when your thyroid goes wrong, it can affect you in lots and lots of different ways that could be really horrid. 

So to raise awareness of that interesting fact, it’s a butterfly shaped gland. We’ve been running around this week on International Thyroid Awareness Week dressed up as butterflies. And that seems to be interesting ’cause we’ve got some media coverage. So that’s my interesting thing. I want everyone to remember it’s a butterfly shaped gland.

24 fingers: I didn’t know that. If you could have a 24-minute Skype chat with anybody, who would it be?

Lorraine: It would be with my mum, because she died when I was five. So to have a chat with her would just be amazing. So there’s nobody else in the running for that.

24 fingers: Would you mind taking a selfie for us? I’m gonna take a screenshot, so you just need to smile. So tell us what’s your favourite social media campaign or Twitter handle?

Lorraine: I would say Action for Happiness. I think it is brilliant, you get immediately what it’s about. It’s dynamic, it’s positive, they do so much. Yeah, I think that’s really important and would be a really good thing.

24 fingers: Especially on a local level as well, they’re great.

Lorraine: Absolutely. They’re very supportive of small-scale initiatives as well. Like I’ve spoken to the lady who set it up. We do stuff in my local area with mindfulness. She’s been really really supportive. She’s great.

24 fingers: Amazing. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?

Lorraine: Life is not a dress rehearsal. This is it.

24 fingers: What’s been the best part day of your day? I know it’s early So you might not have it yet.

Lorraine: Obviously Emma talking to you But yesterday, I would say the best part of my day was the self care session that we did with Michelle, which was just beautiful.

24 fingers: That sounds amazing. Finally, anything to plug?

Lorraine: Well, it’s International Thyroid Awareness Week, this week until the 31st of May. And we would love people to get involved with that. Even if you’ve got a thyroid condition and maybe you’ve been feeling a bit isolated, know that you’re not alone with a thyroid condition. If you don’t have a thyroid condition, maybe ask friends and family and see if you find anyone, if you know anyone that does because it’s often not talked about. I think it would be really great if we could start some conversations.

If you’re interested in getting involved, in fundraising or in supporting us with a donation or doing something creative, helping to amplify our messages on social media, for example there’s lots and lots of ideas, ways you can get involved on the website. We’re always looking for volunteers as well.

24 fingers: Amazing. Oh, well done Lorraine.

Lorraine: Let me show you this. International Thyroid Wednesday. I said, I’m dressing as a butterfly. I’ve been in the paper, look.

24 fingers: Fame at last.

Lorraine: Exactly. So we want more people to do that. There’s three more days to be able to fly around, raise some money for The Thyroid Trust. You can save our future. 

24 fingers: I love that.

Lorraine: I was doing that. Can you believe it? £1,000 just for being a fool. Everybody laughed. Running through Broadstairs on my own, in that get up, and people were just so enthusiastic. It was brilliant fun. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

24 fingers: Well done, Lorraine for everything that you’re doing. Thank you again for your time this morning, it’s been lovely to chat to you.

Here’s a question. At this time when community and having each others’ backs has been pushed to the front of almost everyone’s minds, how much is your time worth to you? Over the last couple of weeks, Emma has been giving hers for free to support the Rotary Club of Brentwood campaign to raise funds for Saint Francis Hospice so they can buy the vital PPE equipment they need. 

She’s created campaign content which is going out on a daily basis across the Rotary Club of Brentwood’s social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The hospice team offers dedicated, expert care and support to people with a life-limiting illness, as well as their carers and family members, COMPLETELY FREE, day in, day out. 

Right now, they need help.

The lockdown means they’ve lost the fundraising which would have come from public events. Their charity shops have had to close, and the cost of the vital PPE equipment they need to carry out their essential work has skyrocketed.

Without that PPE, families can’t spend time with their loved one without the fear of contracting coronavirus. Can you imagine not being able to visit a relative during one of the most difficult times a family can endure?

For Emma, supporting the Rotary Club of Brentwood campaign hits close to home: “I’m proud to support a local charity that does such important work,” she says. “I’ve lost close family members to cancer and my father is fighting the disease, so working with Saint Francis Hospice is something that’s very close to my heart.”

Saint Francis Hospice has been caring for local people for decades. Now it’s our #TimeToGive. Please support their vital work by donating whatever you can – nothing is too big or small at their crowdfunding partner Global Giving‘s page. 

With your help, we can help give most precious gift of all – time. 

If the coronavirus crisis has taught us anything, it’s that human beings are pretty decent when it comes down to the nitty gritty. From 100-year-old Captain Tom Moore raising millions for the NHS by walking lengths of his garden, to the simple act of stepping out to applaud frontline workers, people have come together like never before during this crisis. 

It’s not just been individuals who have gone the extra mile. Businesses and brands have been quick to get in on the social media action, and who can blame them for wanting a slice of this particular feelgood pie?  Everywhere you look there are efforts, big and small to support others during the coronavirus crisis. 

Showing off their big hearts and even deeper pockets are the likes of Google, which donated a hefty $250 million in ad grants to the World Health Organisation and government agencies, while the BP Foundation gave $2 million to the World Health Organisation’s Solidarity Response Fund. 

Proving there’s more to them than tasty meatballs, furniture retailer Ikea has pledged around $28 million to help high-risk groups across 30 countries. 

We heartily approve of branding goddesses Khloe and Kim Kardashian demonstrating an awareness of the world beyond their shapely derrieres. The reality stars are donating a percentage of sales from their Good American and Cotton Collections, respectively, to the charity Baby2Baby, which provides children living in poverty with their basic essentials. 

Publisher Penguin Random House has donated a whopping 750,000 books to support young children in the US affected by school closures – so they’ll have no excuse for not doing their homework, and over in Spain, Cabify for Heroes has given free transport to medical workers in Madrid. 

Penguin Random House Donates 750,000 Books To First Book https://t.co/vfJRt4nclo @FirstBook #books #reading pic.twitter.com/ul2etX0F30

— Library Journal (@LibraryJournal) April 21, 2020

But it’s not just massive international efforts that are rocking our world. Other brands are focusing much closer to home.  Aldi has set up a voucher scheme aimed at vulnerable people who can’t get out and about during lockdown. They can buy a voucher and post it to a family member or friend, who can use it to do their shopping. Genius. 

Introducing the Aldi Vouchers. Our way of helping you shop safer, for you and your loved ones. Find out which one’s for you here: https://t.co/r7MRg1dOTA pic.twitter.com/RuwdGNNmpy

— Aldi Stores UK (@AldiUK) April 28, 2020

Feeding NHS staff was one of the easiest ways to show their support and Pret was one of the first to extend an offer of free or discounted munchies to health workers. 

This one is on us 💚 pic.twitter.com/gDLiZEuQi7

— Pret (@Pret) March 18, 2020

Bosses at UK mobile network Giffgaff clearly thought along practical lines, and gave free access to NHS websites and the 111 number free to all its members, and also set up a neighbourly fund, kicking off with a £75k donation. 

Electric bike retailer Fully Charged offered its e-bikes to hospital workers in London free of charge for three months to help them avoid disrupted public transport, while those in the capital can raise a glass to London brewery Toast Ale. It switched to an online service, offering free deliveries to firms giving staff a virtual after-work drinks party, while all profits to the food charity Feedback. 

Buy a beer & help feed those in need.
The proceeds from every single beer bought from our online shop will go directly to feeding local communities.

To put it simply, 1 beer = 1 meal.

So stock up & help someone today: https://t.co/6S3XgirA3Q.
Free delivery on all orders. pic.twitter.com/cpRv7wVIYk

— Toast Ale (@ToastAle) April 3, 2020

Nobody’s letting the arts slip either, as we enjoy our enforced couch potato-dom. Apart from Matt Lucas’ earwormy (but very clever) Baked Potato song – and now book – raising squillions for the NHS – music lovers haven’t been left in the lurch by Essex start-up Hey Joe Music.

It had barely opened its doors before the lockdown hit, but bounced straight back by offering a home delivery for customers – booooom!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hey Joe (@heyjoemusicuk) on Apr 5, 2020 at 1:54am PDT

And before someone says it, nobody’s forgetting freelancers either…

Calling all businesses. We’re giving away £200 worth of Concierge Credits to hire amazing freelance talent. Let’s get things done! https://t.co/U5Cur0gkYz #UnitedInBusiness

— Freelancer Club (@freelancerclub) April 14, 2020

Those with creative flair have shown their hearts too. Artist Takashi Murakami partnered with streetwear brand Supreme to create a groovy T-shirt, sales of which have raised over $1 million for the charity Help USA, supporting people facing homelessness.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

HELP USA is deeply grateful to @supremenewyork for donating $1,052,040 in sales of their relief T-shirt to HELP USA’s #COVID-19 Emergency efforts and services for homeless families and individuals. This incredible gift comes in a time of our clients’ greatest need and supports our work nationally to provide the most vulnerable with a safe place to call home, food, and essential services during this crisis and beyond. #HELPHeroes #HELPisHere #dogoodfeelgood

A post shared by HELP USA (@helpusa) on May 4, 2020 at 6:02am PDT

The coronavirus crisis has brought out the best form of national pride too, and with VE day coming up, Brentwood Council’s among those eager to participate. Be there at midday on 8th May, don’t be square and don’t forget to have a (disposable) tissue at the ready. 

Friday 8th May marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
To celebrate this special occasion we have produced a commemorative video which will be available to all on Friday at 12pm, as Brentwood Borough Council Leader, Cllr Chris Hossack explains 🇬🇧#VEDay75 pic.twitter.com/DPbrmESFBn

— Brentwood Council (@Brentwood_BC) May 4, 2020

Still not inspired by the wave of love and goodness prompted by the coronavirus lockdown? Well all we can say is maybe you need to sing a rainbow…