By Sally Barney, Head of Fundraising at Fields in Trust
We’ve got some big news to share. Fields in Trust has been selected as Octopus Group’s new environmental charity partner!
As one of the two charities selected for the three-year partnership, Fields in Trust will receive an unrestricted grant each year to provide financial support to accelerate our mission - everyone having quality green space close to home.
The partnership will also offer ongoing guidance and support from the Octopus team, as well as volunteers and access to the diverse skillset of Octopus employees in IT, marketing, finance, HR, and more.
Sally Barney, Head of Fundraising at Fields in Trust, reflects on the journey from application to selection and explores what this exciting new partnership means for the charity.
Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There's plenty of movement, but you never know if it's going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Everyone in the charity sector knows that securing partnerships of this scale are like chasing the gold at the end of the rainbow. We all aspire to it, but given how competitive it is, disappointment is frequent.
When the chance to apply to be one of Octopus Group’s charities for the next three years came up, we had to apply. Their unique partnership sets them apart, and aligns perfectly with our needs as a charity.
The initial application form was refreshingly straightforward. It had word count guidelines rather than strict limits and finished with an intriguing question...
The entire team came together to brainstorm and came up with some fantastic answers…
We decided to go with both.
After submitting our application, were delighted to hear that we’d made the first cut and that the team at Octopus would like to talk to us.
After a lively discussion, which covered everything from the challenges we face, the difference we’re trying to make in the world, and how we’d deliver the hugely popular corporate volunteering days they wanted to sustain, we were in no doubt that a partnership with Octopus could be incredibly powerful – but we knew the competition was fierce.
We were excited to make it through the next cut and were being invited, along with a small handful of other charities, to pitch our charity to the Octopus team. No slides - just the chance for 250 of the Octopus staff team to put questions to us directly – after which they would vote for the two charities they wanted to support. Although nerve-wracking, the team at Octopus was incredibly good at making us feel at ease.
At the end of this process, it meant a lot to hear that we had been picked as Octopus Group’s new environmental charity for the next three years – alongside the brilliant Refettorio Felix (a drop-in centre and community kitchen supporting vulnerable people from Earl’s Court and surrounding areas).
Here’s what some members of the Octopus team had to say about their choice:
I voted for Fields of Trust because as a child I used to spend a lot of times in parks. Even now as an adult I use them for walks, for football, and for dog walking. I think green spaces are unsung heroes, the kind of thing you don’t realise how much you appreciate till it’s gone – which we, of course, want to avoid!Taylor Fitzhugh, Talent Lead, Octopus
I am excited for Octopus to partner with Fields of Trust as I believe in the importance of green spaces and parks, particularly in cities. From the presentation, it seems that Fields of Trust have a holistic approach to campaigning and raising awareness for such spaces. There seem to be multiple ways that Octopus can make an impact on the charity, and I look forward to seeing the success of the partnership!Sophie Miloszewski, Vendor Manager, Octopus
As well as donating money and offering advice to charity partners, the Octopus team also encourages the team to roll up their sleeves and get involved.
Last month, 20 Octopus employees joined us at the Japanese Garden of Peace in Hammersmith Park to help rejuvenate this protected site. Among weeding and trimming and other activities, to aptly celebrate the partnership, we planted a compendium of Campanula 'Pink Octopus' plants! We can’t wait to see this grow and bloom - just like our partnership.
The support we’ve already been offered by the team at Octopus Group already goes far beyond the unrestricted donation that forms part of the offer.
They are as excited as we are about the opportunities to work together, sharing their team’s expertise and knowledge, and helping us see new ways of working. We can already tell that the next three years are going to be golden!