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- Local good causes and...
Local good causes and community engagement
By supporting local good causes or engaging with local communities, event planners can ensure their event achieves social impact within the conference host destination. This can be a valued part of a conference or event’s legacy.
Event planners can choose from a range of options, including:
- Fundraising for a local charity linked to the conference topics, themes or aims.
- Donation to a local charity.
- Bespoke community events to engage local residents and businesses in the conference topics e.g. if the conference aims to raise awareness of health, social or environmental issues.
- Offering free places or tickets for your conference or event to local community groups, schools, colleges or universities.
- Choosing suppliers which are registered charities or Community Interest Companies (CICs).
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Case study: North East England Regenerative Visitor Economy Framework launch
In September 2024, Destination North East England (DNEE) launched its Regenerative Visitor Economy Framework. For the launch event, the DNEE team was aiming to showcase the possibilities of approaching events with a regenerative mindset i.e. taking steps to ensure events bring positive impacts to the local area.
The team chose Newcastle Cathedral (a registered charity) as the venue for the event and Café 16 as the caterers. Established at the cathedral in 2021, Café 16 is staffed by a team of prison leavers who are trained, mentored, and led by charity the Oswin Project. The café also uses produce grown in the prison garden.
DNEE also chose to support Newcastle-based LGBTQIA+ choir Northern Proud Voices (pictured above). They booked the choir to perform at the end of the event when delegates were invited to stay for drinks and the buffet provided by Café 16. The talented choir filled the cathedral with joyous song to provide an appropriate close for the landmark event.
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There is an abundance of charities and good causes in the region. If you’re bringing a conference or event to the region and are ready to start planning for social impact, NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau can help you find the good causes that most closely match your organisational or event objectives. Contact the team via conventionbureau@ngi.org.uk or +44 (0)191 440 5757.