tracey jefferies

I don’t know about you, but I’m approached at least once a week to donate to charity. I do my best to support everyone’s efforts, but I realise sometimes there is only so much that each of us can do, so if you have already decided your charitable causes for this year I completely understand.

Did you know that life expectancy of someone living on the streets is only 47 years old? – shocking isn’t it?

That’s why I’ve signed up to join The Big Sleep Out on 18th May 2012 – to support the work of The Big Issue Foundation – and to make a difference to the lives of homeless and vulnerably housed people in the UK. I’ll be giving up my bed and home comforts for one night and joining others to support the work of The Big Issue Foundation and to change a life while I sleep.

Why am I specifically doing this? A very good friend of mine was homeless as a teenager (not that I knew her then). Her life reached rock bottom and she struggled with alcoholism among other things. With the right support and guidance she turned her life around, went to University and now runs her own successful business and is about to complete her first book. She is one of the most giving and supportive people I have the pleasure of knowing and when she asked me to join her sleeping out on the streets of London I didn’t hesitate. Actually, that’s not entirely true. I did make sure there are toilet facilities…!

I will be hosting a couple of fundraisers to go towards my target of £500.00, but if you prefer to donate now, you can do so easily by clicking this link: http://my.artezglobal.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=346850&langPref=en-CA

I’ll be posting details of the fundraisers on Twitter (@traceyjefferies) and via my blog www.traceyjefferies.co.uk

The Big Issue Foundation works with over 2,900 individuals across the UK to tackle issues ranging from health and accommodation through to money management and aspirations. The Big Issue Foundation is about taking control, moving forward, gaining independence and rebuilding lives. They exist to enable vendors to continue on their journey away from homelessness.

With your support we can help to make a big change in some one else’s life. So please sponsor me as I embark on this challenge. You can help support me, and The Big Issue Foundation, by making a secure online donation using your credit card. Click on the link below:

http://my.artezglobal.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=346850&langPref=en-CA

For more information on how YOU can participate in the The Big Sleep Out 2012 , please visit us at www.bigissue.org.uk/events

Thanks for your support!

Can you answer that question straight off? Be honest now. Can you really give a simple and yet compelling answer to that question?

My job involves a lot of words. Words designed to evoke emotion, words that invite engagement and yet when it comes to explaining what I do and why anyone would want to work with me, I sometimes struggle to find the right words.

Am I alone in this?

We each take it for granted that the nitty gritty of our chosen industry is blatantly obvious to all. Just last night I used the term Marketing Communications; in my eyes a self-explanatory phrase explaining what industry I’m involved in. Yes, but what do you actually ‘do’ was the response. And this was from someone who knows me personally.

In a recent meeting I was asked to talk about various projects I’d worked on. Now, these are case studies that I’m immensely proud of, work that led to very happy clients who continue to use me. Even with that background I struggled to sell myself, expecting my work to speak for itself, which it does in part.

Is it simply a case of being too modest, too British to blow my own trumpet, lack of confidence or simply, a lack of practice?

Why should anyone employ you?