Our weekly round-up of interesting and outlandish information, collected from the corners of the charity sector.
Able was I, ere I saw Elba
Decorated actor and DJ Idris Elba OBE is many things to many people. For this particular column, he was (along with fellow Englishman, Dominic West) the best thing about HBO’s classic crime drama The Wire. He also did a damn fine job as Detective Inspector Luther in the eponymous BBC drama of the same name.
He is also, quite clearly and without question, a certified beefcake. A seriously tall drink of water, in a perfectly crafted vessel. He’s a hunk. He’s buff, fit, hot, piff, (a slang word that, apparently, is used by ‘London youth’ to describe someone’s appearance as ‘attractive’, according to urban dictionary… bloody kids) and, or, incredibly moreish.
Diary could go on and on, consulting only the recesses of its love-sick heart and the pages of its thesaurus, describing just how amenable Idris Elba’s features are, but it won’t. Dear reader, if you’re not on board with Idris Elba already then, please, do yourself a favour and watch the video below:
[Five minutes and one cold shower later]
Now, Omaze is in an American crowdfunding platform, and all the donations on the site appear to be in US dollars; so it would be safe to assume that the date itself will take place in America. However, before hundreds of thousands of hearts all over the UK break at the same time, it does say that the winner will be “flown out” to meet with him. Good news there.
Also, returning once more to the video in question, did Idris Elba just say he’d let you “pound his yams” – because, Diary’s pretty sure that’s what he said. The yam of course is an edible tuber vegetable but, Diary thinks, is pretty sure anyway, that Elba’s making a humorous innuendo there.
Also, he seems to intentionally mispronounce the word ‘champagne’ which is adorable, really, isn’t it? Idris Elba clearly knows how to pronounce the word ‘champagne’ – he’s a famous actor, for heaven’s sake. Idris Elba has turned down more free flutes of champagne (proper, French stuff, not the sparkling prosecco that the rest of us plebs crack open) at award ceremonies, film festivals and red-carpet events than you’ve had ready meals.
Speaking of drinks, even the most perfunctory glance at the comments section below the video show that the people entering are deeply, profoundly thirsty for a little sip of Idris Elba. Diary’s personal favourite comment reads: “Have you ever cried with lust???! That’s what’s happening to me right now! Omg donating right now. Just so I can have a chance to pound those yams!!!”
“Thanks for the support!” replies Omaze’s social media team. “Good luck!” it says. Understated and subtle, just like the man himself.
Anyway, get donating. You’ve got to be in it to win it and, besides, you’re helping the wonderful cause of W.E. Can Lead.
Thunderclap your hands, say regulation!
Fundraisers – they love social media, don’t they? They’re always tweeting, and Facebook…ing and, Diary doesn’t know, on Tumblr (is that still a thing?) and Pinterest; pinning things. Gifs of people hi-fiving, and cat memes and inspirational quotes from people who may, or may not have actually said them, super-imposed over black and white photographs of the ocean.
Yep, fundraisers are a techy bunch and, in that vein, the brave men and women of their very own Fundraising Regulator – ‘of fundraising, for fundraising’ – are planning a pretty techy surprise for them all come February.
Yes, the FR are planning on using the power of the heavens to simultaneously tweet about the opening of its consultation on the Code of Fundraising Practice. They’ve only gone and set up a ruddy thunderclap about it.
So, fundraisers, synchronise your iPhone watches (clocks, whatever) for midnight on 8 February because, apparently, that’s when the thunderclap is happening.
So far, only 25 ‘supporters’ have signed up to the FR’s thunderclap which is, admittedly, not so much a thunderstorm as it is more a social media drizzle. However, there’s still plenty of time.
In all seriousness though, if you’re a fundraiser and you’re not aware of this, you should be. The decisions made during this consultation between February and April will quite likely have a huge impact on how you’ll be working for the next couple of years, at least.
Sign up then, and help spread the word; Diary’s sure the FR will remember those who were more than just fair weather friends.
And the horse you rode in on
Aside from being an ideal platform for the Prime Minister to launch her vision for shared society (which may or may not be quite similar to big society – only time will tell), this week’s Charity Commission annual meeting was the ideal opportunity for William Shawcross to make another naked plea to the sector to cough up some funding.
A consultation is promised very, very soon.
Two charity leaders he said had come up to him and said they agree – and if that’s not evidence then what is?
Anyway this time he chose to drive home the point, by harking back to the olden times when “charity commissioners rode around the country on horseback” to carry out their role.
Frankly Diary is saddened that this doesn’t still happen. It could, in fact, be a way for the commission to drum up its much need dosh. Just imagine it - William and co riding around the country on horseback in ceremonial robes with collecting tins.
Indeed he as much said he would like to. Well he actually said: “One or two of our board members could still do that. I would not do that very well though.” But surely there are some horse-riding charities that could lend a hand?
His point was that ever since then Charity Commissioners have “agitated for more powers and more money and I have been now exception”. But the country is skint so the only way to increase the regulator’s funds is to extract some money from charities. Large charities mind, not the kitchen table small charities, which are the lifeblood of the sector etc. etc.
He also confirmed that all options for charging will be consulted on. Charging money, that is. Not charging as in putting your spurs to the sides of a stallion, pointing your sabre, and giving the ruffians what for. The Charity Commission doesn't do that any more.
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