Neo is the Positive Change Agency. We work with national charities, public sector and social enterprises to make the world a better place. We help people to take a sustainable approach to communication that is designed to have a positive and lasting impact.
ACTIONAID ANNUAL REVIEW SHORTLISTED FOR THIRD SECTOR AWARD
ActionAid's 2008/09 annual review produced by Neo has been shortlisted for a Third Sector Excellence Award in the category of best Annual Report. Theother shortlisted organisations are
Brathay Trust,
East Cheshire Hospice,
St Mungo’s,
Thistle Foundation and
Walsingham. The winner will be announced at at the award ceremony to be held at the Lancaster London hotel on Thursday 23 September. Fingers crossed...
NHS WEBSITE SHORTLISTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS HEALTH COMMUNICATIONS AWARD
A website developed by Neo for Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust has been shortlisted for the Best Website category in this year’s AHCM Communicating Health Awards. The awards are currently being assessed by external judges and the winners will be announced at the Gala Dinner during the AHCM Conference on Wednesday, October 6th at The Belfry Hotel in Sutton Coldfield.
The website produced has also been awarded Accessibility Plus status by disability support charity Shaw Trust for its excellent standards in accessibility.
PUTTING FOCUS ON CONSUMER SUSTAINABILITY
Consumer Focus have marked the launch of their internal Sustainability Action Plan with events at their London, Cardiff and Glasgow offices. Neo was engaged to create a campaign, materials and design the events. Consumer Focus chose our 'I'm in' campaign concept that exploits the idea of social proof – people
are more likely to do something if they see other people doing it. The events clearly supported this theory with a high percentage turnout and sign-up from staff.
POWER OF PROTEST OILS THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE
We joined Zaytoun, producers of the world's first Fairtrade olive oil, for the launch of their olive farmer's tour for Fairtrade Fortnight 2010. We got to taste traditional Palestinian food made with Zaytoun's new products - za'atar, a delicious wild grown herb mix, dates from the Jericho area, almonds, and large-grain couscous. Unfortunately the event was attended by only one of the four farmers due to tour the country, educating UK consumers about the olive farming tradition and the challenges faced by the farmers. Despite sponsorship by Oxfam and Zaytoun, three of the four Palestinian farmers were denied visas by the UK Border Agency. We launched a media campaign in protest of the visa denial. The story was covered in over 30 broadcast, print and online publications. 3000 Fairtrade supporters signed the petition and 780 joined the Facegroup group set up for the campaign. Within one week the UK Border Agency revoked their decision and the visas were granted! Big thank you to all those who supported the campaign.
SWEET IDEAS EMERGE FROM YMCA TRAINING'S WORKSHOP
Recently we travelled to the chocolate mecca of Bournville for a communications workshop with the YMCA Training leadership team. Fuelled by hot chocolate (complete with marshmallows!) we took the team of 20 through an interactive session looking at what their communications needs and barriers were in preparation for a communications plan which we will be developing for them.
A NEW LOOK FOR FAMILY LEARNING
National Family Learning Network is the only national membership-led platform within the family learning
sector. It currently supports 9,500 family learning practitioners. The network is a partnership between Campaign for Learning, NIACE and ContinYou. We were engaged to carry out a full strategic review and rebrand for the network. The outputs of the review process were fed into a revised brand strategy and new visual identity.
BRAND FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Bond Annual Conference and AGM lived up to expectations with 220 delegates
from more than 150 organisations coming together to discuss the issues and
challenges of the International Development sector. The event also celebrated the launch of the new Bond brand developed by Neo. The branding process involved extensive engagement with members, staff, trustees, funders, suppliers and networks. A number of newly branded publications including the annual report were distributed at the event.
NEO SAVES THE PLANET…
...well almost. More than 60 publishing and communications professionals came together for the “Can Publishing Save The Planet?” conference hosted by Neo, NCVO and Generation Press. The event was a huge success and sparked a day of inspiring conversation and debate that left participants better informed and wanting to do more to help the third sector communicate in a more sustainable way. Speakers and workshop facilitators included Charles Thwaites MBE, Executive Director of FSC; Phil Hesmondhalgh, Design and Print Manager for ActionAid UK; Mike Petty, Publishing Manager for The Eden Project as well as speakers from WWF, Sustainable Development Commission, Friends of the Earth, Penguin Books, Green Futures, New Scientist, Shrinkpaper and PREPS.
BRINGING MUSEUMS TO LIFE
Neo is supporting Renaissance South East in its groundbreaking programme to transform regional museums in the South East. We helped the partnership really stand out at this year’s Museums Association conference and exhibition by creating a range of materials designed to bring their visual brand to life. The colourful collection of exhibition boards, promotional materials, tee-shirts, badges and branded cupcakes ensured Renaissance South East made its presence felt at Europe's largest museum and gallery event. Neo previously worked with Renaissance on the innovative SLIME (Science Links in Museum Education) network, which now boasts 85 member museums across the South East. And we’re delighted to say that the Inspiring Science schools pack we produced has proved so popular with primary and secondary teachers that it has just gone to a second print run.
NEO CREATES THE UK'S FIRST ETHICAL FINANCE COMPARISON SITE
Neo has been instrumental in bringing positive change to the finance sector with the launch of the UK's first comparison site www.yourethicalmoney.org that compares the ethical policies and practices of financial institutions. The Ethical Investment Research Service Foundation (EIRIS) approached Neo to build a cutting edge website that allows consumers to compare the social, environmental and ethical policies and practices of financial companies. For the first time consumers will have access to vital information about financial providers enabling them to choose more socially responsible financial products.
‘In designing the website,the key priorities were ease of usability and to communicate ethical money issues effectively in order to encourage consumers to consider these as part of their financial planning and help them make positive change,’ says Matt Wood, Creative Director, Neo
Check out www.yourethicalmoney.org
CONTACT US
Neo, 8 Beaconsfield Studios, 25 Ditchling Rise, Brighton BN1 4QL
01273 600 500
info@neocreative.co.uk