Community

Cobb in the Community

We believe that companies have a duty to put something back into the communities where they work.

It might be time, business skills, high level contacts or money. But the important point is to do something.

At Cobb PR, we like to practice what we preach and have three key strands to our work in the community:

•  Education
•  Sport
•  Charities

Education

We have supported schools and colleges for over 15 years. Our support includes providing work experience opportunities, careers advice for students, enterprise weeks, Young Enterprise, and encouraging other businesses to engage with schools.

We work closely with journalism students at the University of Brighton and City College and take a regular feed of students for work experience. Tim Cobb is a regular guest speaker at both sites.  

Cobb PR has strong links to Wired Sussex and also offers graduates the chance to experience life in a busy and fast-moving agency.

Sport

Tim Cobb is a non-executive director at Eastbourne Borough Football Club, which is run as a community interest company. He works with the chairman and other directors to raise the profile of the club and encourage the business community to take a greater interest in the side.

Cobb PR is closely involved with the Sussex County Cricket Club. We are proud sponsors of the club and sit on the testimonial committee to raise funds for cricketers in their final year of the professional game.

Tim was a keen cricketer in his day and could often be seen running out the way of a fast-moving ball. His claim to fame was managing to break two fingers in two consecutive games. It was at this point that he realised that it was better to be a fan than a player.

Charities and community groups

Cobb PR runs three exclusive networking clubs for business owners in Sussex. At each of the monthly meetings, Cobb PR gives a charity or community group a five minute platform to talk about their hopes and aspirations for the year ahead. Club members donate more than £10,000 a year to these charities.

If you are a charity and would like to have the opportunity to speak at one of our lunch clubs, please email Janet Kemp our business manager.

Chestnut Tree House Hospice

Cobb PR organised a Brighton dash to Beaujolais country in France to collect the first new wines of the season. A dozen of the great and the good from the city’s influential business community joined the dash, including Andy Cheesman from City Cabs, property magnate Mike Holland and business entrepreneurs Robbie and Elliot Raggio.

It was great fun and, more importantly, raised a few thousand pounds for Chestnut Tree House Hospice.

Albion in the Community (AIC)

Tim Cobb has been asked by AIC to facilitate training sessions with job-seekers to sharpen up their interview and letter-writing skills.

Tim said: “It’s a great honour to be asked to help Albion in the Community and I am thoroughly enjoying this work. The delegates are completely committed to finding work and their enthusiasm is wonderful to see.

“These guys really deserve a chance and I am delighted that many Brighton & Hove companies are giving them that opportunity to shine,” he said.

Save the DGH

Another challenging time for the future of hospital services in Eastbourne. Cobb PR has been helping to promote planned changes to the delivery of core services and the dangers it believes they pose.

At the time of writing, we are gearing up for a march and rally on Eastbourne seafront on September 15, 2012. We are hoping to get at least 5,000 people to show their concerns and send a message to the health authority to leave our services alone.

Best of British – Gatwick

Our good friend Ryan Heal has moved from Juice Radio to the top job at Rockinghorse children’s charity. He has asked Cobb PR to help him sell a few tables at a charity fundraiser in Gatwick this November. We’ve had a great response and have had commitments for 5 tables so far.

FESH becomes FSH

The wonderful fundraisers at Friends of East Sussex Hospices (FESH) are widening their horizons to cover the whole of Sussex. In light of the geographical change, they are re-naming themselves Friends of Sussex Hospitals (FSH).

Cobb PR is proud to provide FSH with ad-hoc advice on PR and marketing issues and we wish them every success in supporting hospices across East and West Sussex.

Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership

Tim Cobb was recently invited to join the prestigious Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership, which comprises some of the largest and most influential companies in the city.

The Partnership does some fantastic work in raising awareness and concerns across a wide variety of areas that impact on the community and businesses.

Eastbourne & District Chamber of Commerce

Tim is a non-executive director of the Chamber and enjoys supporting initiatives to promote the great range of businesses in the amazing town of Eastbourne.

The Board meets bi-monthly and Tim enjoys the high-level strategic discussions on marketing, tourism, events and numerous other disciplines.

Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce

And as if that wasn’t enough, the boss has also been asked to support the Brighton & Hove Chamber with its Living Wage campaign.

No wonder we rarely see him in the office these days!