A Message from The MD: 2023
Charity begins at home.
One of the world’s most famous sayings.
I had the privilege of volunteering with Charity Begins At Home this month. The owner and founder, Saleem was discouraged by those around him, who felt that people surviving on the streets, were not deserving and meaningless. Since 2016, under his leadership, the charity has never missed a Friday Food Distribution and over 10,000 individuals have volunteered with him, with an active pool of 500+ regular volunteers.
Friday Food Distribution is the charity’s most iconic project, taking place on Agar Street, off the Strand, London. The best quality food is served to homeless people – one hot meal, water, juice, sandwiches, crisps, bakery items, yoghurts, chocolate, fruit – enough to help a person survive for 24 hours. There is a dedicated hospitality team who greet the guests.
Taking part, along with several members of my team, I was blown away by Saleem’s eye for detail, the routine coordination of the two-hour operation, the parallels he drew between hospitality for the advantaged and how he felt the disadvantaged should be treated and what they deserve as human beings. Saleem makes a point of calling those who queue up in line, ‘guests’. He spent time explaining the difference a smile, a polite exchange, could have on a person’s day, when this type of human interaction is so rare.
There is a lot out of our control. But the way we treat each other is absolutely in our control as is the experience we create for each other at work. And positive interactions with colleagues feed into the great customer experience which is critical for any agency’s long-term success.
As 2023 draws to a close, there is a lot to celebrate. Broadsword continues to flourish and grow with a host of stunning events across the globe; there have been multiple award wins; we have our first ever degree apprentice and our B Corp application is in!
But it’s easy to focus on the big moments, and let the everyday conversations, offers of help, reassurance, encouragement, and interest in each other’s lives, pass us by. I am continually grateful to be part of such a supportive community both inside my business and throughout the events industry. I feel welcome. I feel at home.
Empathy from the Greek ‘empatheia’ (em – ‘in’ and pathos ‘feeling’) is the ability to understand and share another individual’s emotions and experiences. Charity Begins at Home is an organisation that not only leads with empathy, but surpasses expectations, thinking ten steps ahead for every guest that joins the long queue in Agar Street. It was an incredibly inspiring way to round off the year, spending a brief moment in time with the guests, stepping into their shoes and sharing a welcoming smile.
I hope you have peaceful festive season filled with joy.
Happy Christmas.