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The charity sector has ‘never been more stretched’, says NCVO interim CEO

(21 Jan 2022 News)

This is pretty stark news and whilst we’ve not got a wand to wave, we have recently launched our new platform which enables organisations at negligible cost, to have their own fully branded Homepage together with fully branded templated books which your supporters can purchase. This innovative and collaborative approach not only generates income for organisations, but also helps supporters engage with your organisation and much more besides. There is no limit to what the books can be set up to do. They can be used for story telling, or be created for pets, babies, weddings, and so much more!

We would love to help in the hope that we can reduce the stretch by generating engagement and additional income for you. Please get in touch using the link below and we will happily set up a screen share and show you what it’s all about. Contact Us
 

Client Focus

We have recently had the enormous privilege of creating a book for the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

Contributors were invited to create a Memorial page, add Tributes and read the moving tributes already shared. A Memorial Page can be set up in memory of a family member, loved one or an influential figure who was murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi persecution or by other groups, and in recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

Clicking the image below to go to the book within which there are some extremely moving stories including some tributes that have been left for Anne Frank.

The beautiful Wolf Moon over Falmouth Harbour on 18th January 2022

We would love to show you more and can happily set up a screen sharing call at a time to suit. Just click here to drop us an E mail with your best contact number and we will be in touch to arrange a suitable time.

As we return to work all refreshed and recharged from a season of joy and festivities we are conscious of the sizeable inboxes that lie awaiting, hence we have kept this edition of our first 2022 newsletter brief but to the point. Above all though, of course, it comes with our very best wishes for a happy, healthy and truly abundant New Year!

We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have launched our new platform, which is now live. This has been termed a total ‘game changer’ by clients and stakeholders alike. It is the very first platform of its kind to date.

Not only can users access our classic customised Online book building facilities, but they can use the platform to create their own bespoke templated books from scratch.

These books can be set up so that the supporters buy the book on a revenue sharing basis or, via a voucher code generated.

Given the global challenges we’ve faced over the last two years, it has never been more important for charities and organisations to be as creative as possible to maximise awareness and harness engagement.

Here’s an example of a branded homepage for DadPad.

There is much more to this than meets the eye…we can’t wait to tell you more.

With Very Warmest Wishes,
The Online Book Company

For a little more information, about our books, this short Vimeo film may be most helpful.

Watch here

Create your very own easy to use Onine Book

We would love to show you more and can happily set up a screen sharing call at a time to suit. Just click here to drop us an E mail with your best contact number and we will be in touch to arrange a suitable time.

We find ourselves upon the first of December. A month of light. Of snow and feasts, glittering memories, little Christmas figurines and so many other joyful, precious things. On this magical note as the festive season begins, we wanted to say Thank You from the bottom of our hearts. Your loyalty and support means so much to us.

The 19th of this December will mark the 40th anniversary of the Penlee Lifeboat disaster. 40 years ago the Solomon Browne rescue boat was bndeployed from the Penlee Lifeboat station on the small scenic Cornish fishing town of Mousehole (Mouzle) to aid the Union Star 8 miles off the Cornish coast. This was one of the most challenging rescues of all time, battling with hurricane force winds with speeds of nearly 100mph and monumental 40 ft waves in the dark of December. Despite a successful initial rescue, the crew were all lost alongside the passengers of the Union Star, who were returning from Denmark on what was the ship’s Maiden Voyage. 16 people died in all, the 8 crew members of the rescue lifeboat and 8 people from the Union Star, including the Captain’s pregnant wife and his two daughters just off Wolf Rock, in what was a great tragedy for Cornwall that Christmas.

Hence, it is an honour and a privilege to have created the 40th Anniversary Book of Remembrance to mark the heartfelt occasion. This special Online Book is a place to commemorate the extraordinary courage shown from ordinary Cornish men and to share sympathies with a community who will never forget.

The book is open for everyone to sign online until January, when it will then be printed and put on display at the Penlee Visitor Centre at the Lifeboat Station in Newlyn Harbour (Cornish seaside town and largest harbour in England) as a lasting memorial and symbol of grace to those who were lost.

The village of Mousehole, has a long cherished tradition each Christmas, where local villagers put up a spectacular scene of lights which attract visitors from far and wide. The Christmas lights beautifully illuminate the port and reflect on out to sea…Every year on the 19th of December between 8pm and 9pm the lights are dimmed.

Have yourself a truly Wonderful Christmas and we will see you in the New Year.

With Warmest Christmas Wishes,
The Team at The Online Book Company

For a little more information, about our books, this short Vimeo film may be most helpful.

Watch here

Mousehole Harbour Lights

We would love to show you more and can happily set up a screen sharing call at a time to suit. Just click here to drop us an E mail with your best contact number and we will be in touch to arrange a suitable time.

Last week’s explosive revelations given in Parliament by former Facebook Product Manager Frances Haugen were at the forefront of headlines world wide. Haugen’s testimony that the company was and is knowingly putting profit over safety, with potentially dire consequences – an innumerable amount of which have already manifested, proved to be a confirmation of what many of us have long known but have turned a blind eye towards: The data of your organisation and your supporters on seemingly innocuous websites can be significantly manipulated. Be that through the use of subliminal messaging that can cause behavioural changes which can influence the outcomes of elections through to unauthorised location tracking. The consequences of this in a democratic world which deems individual liberty and safety, fundamental human rights are deeply disturbing.

In light of this we wanted to stress to you that here at the Online Book Company your privacy is paramount. The heart of our ethos is that these books provide a sacred, profoundly special place where you share your emotions. Be that joy, sadness, or vulnerability. We were founded upon principles of all that makes us human. Not a statistic.

The only personal data we ever collect is when a supporter registers to leave a message in a book. This registration enables the client to go back to edit their message at any time and upload any new pictures.

Since 2013, The Online Book Company has been ISO 27001 certified for the protection of your data, which is unavailable to any third parties. This ISO Certification hosted with ISO 27001 is rarely found outside of the financial services sector. Our recommendation is that any other organisations that you work with should have similar credentials in place. As far as donations are concerned, we ensure that these go directly to an organisation’s own payment portal, hence reducing possible data exposure to third party agencies and additional expense.

We would be delighted to talk to you if would like to discuss any of this further.

For a little more information, about our books, this short Vimeo film may be most helpful.

Watch here

We are so blessed with our spectacular Cornish sunsets

With best wishes,

Jonathan, Julie, Tim and Harry

We would love to show you more and can happily set up a screen sharing call at a time to suit. Just click here to drop us an E mail with your best contact number and we will be in touch to arrange a suitable time.

For October we have 3 ideas, 2 quotes, a question and of course our monthly picture from Cornwall….

Ideas

1. Whilst we would really rather not think too much about it just now, Christmas is fast approaching. If you would like to create an Online book for your supporters to engage with, leave messages and make donations, then do get in touch. We can help!

2. Many Hospices are now finalising their Light up a Life for this year, with Covid still placing restrictions on in-person events, many Hospices have come to us in search of a platform Online, where people can be remembered, and donations made. Check out: Highland Hospice

3.We are excited to be able to share the imminent launch of our much-anticipated B2C Platform enabling individual’s to create their own Online Books. Organisations can have their own branded Home pages on the new platform and supporters will be able to create their own branded books. The Link below is a bit of a teaser and is the banner which will appear on the homepage. These books will engage your supporters and generate money for you.

If you would like to find out more, please use the links below to get in touch and we will set up a time that works for you.

Quotes From Others

“Fundraising is the gentle art of teaching the joy of giving.” Hank Rosso

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” Helen Keller

Question

Are you sure that you are do everything possible to engage with and give recognition to your supporters?
We don’t know all there answers but, we may have some. If you would like to find out how we may be able to help you, then we would love to hear from you.

Don’t end up the creek without a paddle!

With best wishes,

Jonathan, Julie, Tim and Harry

We would love to show you more and can happily set up a screen sharing call at a time to suit. Just click here to drop us an E mail with your best contact number and we will be in touch to arrange a suitable time.

One of the great privileges of creating Online Books is to occasionally dip into the stories and look at some of the wonderful tributes that people have left.

One such tribute was left a couple of weeks ago for a Lance Bombardier Edward Morgan who died 66 years ago. The message, left by his nephew, is typical of many in the book and is well worth a look.

This particular book, which was created for the British Cyprus Memorial Trust some 12 years ago, is full of lovely tributes. Many of these have been left by people in their 80’s who have got online to remember colleagues they lost back in the 1950’s.

https://www.theonlinebookcompany.com/OnlineBooks/BritishCyprusMemTrust/Celebrations/RemembrancePages/992

We have got some lovely case histories which show how Charities have increased their supporter data base, supporter engagement and fundraising through books like this. We would love to show you more and will be very happy to set up a Screen share at a time to suit.

“Light up a life” campaigns

We are already working on a number of 2021 Light up a Life Campaigns. Once again, if you you like to find out more and see some case histories, then do please get in touch on this sooner rather than later!

For a little more information, about our books, this short Vimeo film may be most helpful.

Watch here

A view from the Cornish Coastal Footpath to Trevellas Porth, St Agnes

With best wishes,

Jonathan, Julie, Tim and Harry

We would love to show you more and can happily set up a screen sharing call at a time to suit. Just click here to drop us an E mail with your best contact number and we will be in touch to arrange a suitable time.

This month we thought you may like to see a lovely example of an uplifting Summer Memorial Book which has been initiated by Bury Hospice. Their supporters have been invited take part in their very first Summer Memorial Butterfly Release. As they release hundreds of beautiful, specially reared Painted Lady butterflies at their 30th anniversary event, they will be remembering those people who have touched their lives.

This initiative has certainly captured the imagination of their supporters and many dedications have already been made. Click on the cover to open the book.

When the Summer campaign comes to an end, books similar to these can be repurposed for other campaigns.

A brief glimpse at some of the books we create
Below is a link to a very to a 2.5 minute Vimeo film which will show you some examples of different books made to fit different occasions and needs.

Watch here

The glorious beach at Perranporth

With best wishes,

Jonathan, Julie, Tim and Harry

We would love to show you more and can happily set up a screen sharing call at a time to suit. Just click here to drop us an E mail with your best contact number and we will be in touch to arrange a suitable time.

Over the next couple of weeks, a lot of news will be emanating from Cornwall as the G7 Summit gets under way in Carbis Bay.

The planning of putting on an event like this is challenging at the best of times. Happening with Covid restrictions still in place adds to the complication.

To our great honour, we will be creating a Legacy Book for this Summit which will not only record in words, pictures and film footage the events leading up to the event but also the hopes and aspirations of both the young and old, together with a number of different interviews and the messages the delegates will be taking back to their own Countries.

The Book will be a point of record and recognition from which future progress can be checked.

On the subject of recognition and engagement, the link below takes you to a very short film which showcases some of the different books of engagement we have created for Charities and other organisations for supporter recognition, engagement, storytelling, fundraising and more.

Carbis Bay, Cornwall. Hosting the G7 Conference

With best wishes,

Jonathan, Julie, Tim and Harry

We would love to show you more and can happily set up a screen sharing call at a time to suit. Just click here to drop us an E mail with your best contact number and we will be in touch to arrange a suitable time.

Once again we have had so much positive feedback to our monthly 1st Wednesday picture from Cornwall, that we would send you some more.

Like everywhere else in the Country its been rather chilly. However, its been been warm enough in the sheltered spots to indulge in the 1st Ice cream of season!

Back to business for a minute:- We have had another busy month helping our 3rd Sector Clients with Legacy stewardship, recognition and engagement. If you would like to to take a look at what we are doing and go through some case histories, then please in touch. We can easily put the kettle on and set up a screenshare and show you what we have been up to. Click on the link other here or at the bottom of the page and we can set up a time to suit.

After the lovely feedback we received from last months Newsletter pictures, we thought that for our April Newsletter we would share a few Easter pictures from a rather chilly, deserted but as always beautiful Cornwall.

The “business” part of the newsletter is simply to say is that we have in the last month been busy building books for Charities and organisations who are keen to give grateful recognition to their legators. If you would like to see what we have doing, then please do get in touch using the link below and we will happily set up a call and a screen share to show you more.

In the mean time we hope you enjoy a little Easter Sunshine!