London Marathon Events Charity Working Group

Introduction

One of London Marathon Events’ founding aims is to maximise revenue for charities, and we’re very proud that our events have raised more than £1 billion for charities since 1981. From the onset of the pandemic, London Marathon Events has worked hard to provide charities with new opportunities to raise crucial funding and lead the way for the safe return of mass participation sports events.

We have always aimed to be fair, transparent and to act with integrity in all our engagements with our much-valued charity partners.

We know there have been frustrating times during this very challenging period. We value the honest feedback we have received and are committed to finding ways to collaborate more closely with our charity partners and develop shared understanding. We want to hold constructive conversations throughout the year so we can offer optimal opportunities and support to charities as they continue to build back.

As a first step, we are convening the first London Marathon Events Charity Working Group in the summer of 2022.

Overview

The London Marathon Events Charity Working Group (the Group) will comprise a small number of individuals (Members) representing London Marathon Events’ charity partners. The Group is intended to inform, support and strengthen LME’s charity offering by providing a forum for discussion and debate.

The pilot group will be appointed in summer 2022 and will work for an initial 10-month period to May 2023 (after the 2023 TCS London Marathon) with a particular focus on how LME conducts its charity communications.

The Group will act as a ‘critical friend’ and will not hold executive powers.

Purpose

  1. Critical friend – provide insights, ideas and feedback on LME’s charity offerings and how we communicate and engage with charities.
  2. New ideas – broaden understanding between LME and charity partners to ensure LME is offering increasingly impactful opportunities to charities.
  3. Sector engagement – support with engaging the wider charitable and fundraising sectors with LME's initiatives. 


Meetings

The LME Charities Team will convene meetings, preparing relevant papers in liaison with the Chair and taking minutes of the meetings. Feedback from these meetings will be incorporated into LME’s planning.


Resource and commitment

Each Group member will commit to approximately four meetings during the pilot period and additional work (by agreement) in between meetings. Meetings can be attended either in person at LME’s London office or virtually. Members will receive expenses in line with LME’s volunteer policy.

Membership

Eight to 10 founding members representing a broad range of experiences within LME’s active charity customers to deliver an inclusive approach.


Membership criteria

  • Members will represent a charity with active involvement in any event or combination of events in LME’s portfolio. Active involvement means the charity has entered participants into an event in 2021 or 2022.
  • Members will represent a charity of any size or cause. Charities must be registered in the UK.
  • Members will have a willingness to share insights, experiences, ideas and offer constructive challenge to LME.
  • Members will be committed to LME’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion aims.
  • Initially, Members should have strategic involvement and decision-making responsibilities within their charity related to mass participation fundraising. Please note, applications are welcome from individuals at all levels to form the basis of a wider charity focus–group, which will support the activities of the LME Charity Working Group.
  • Please note, individuals, rather than charity organisations, will be appointed to the Group.



Benefits

This is an opportunity to directly engage with and influence one of the world’s leading mass participation event organisers and host of the world’s largest annual one-day fundraising event.