News: Charity fundraising plans laid bare

Junior Chamber International (JCI) members in Rotherham and Sheffield are calling on people to donate their unwanted undergarments in a massive show of support for a female charity campaign.

Leading by example, members will shedding their outgrown or unused bras and these will be distributed to women in developing countries. As well as being gifted to ladies who don't own their own bra, they'll also be used as stock, helping ladies start up their own market-stall businesses. Sub-standard bras will be recycled raising cash for Flamingo Foundation projects. 

Fiona Silvester, membership director at JCI and owner of Alexandra's Café in Rotherham (pictured, far right), said: "We hope local ladies will get involved and show their support for their female counterparts around the world. There are thousands of unwanted bras that women have outgrown or got bored of, and we want to put them to good use.

"By donating old bras, people can help communities across the world in many practical ways and know that after the important support the bra has given them, it can go on to help someone else."

The "Bra Bank" scheme is run by the Flamingo Foundation and each year around 20,000 bras are distributed. This includes to a community of ladies in Kisumu, Kenya – many of who are widowed having lost their husbands to HIV. Most work the land and care for their families without any physical support, so owning their own bra, or having the opportunity to set up a market stall using the bras as stock, is extremely welcome.

A spokesperson for the Flamingo Foundation, said: "Be they sexy lacy numbers or plain over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders, we can give any old bra a new lease of life."

To drop off your bra, please ask for Fiona at Alexandra's Café, Rail Mill Way, Parkgate.

Flamingo Foundation website

Images: JCI Sheffield / Flamingo Foundation

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News: Fiona has the recipe for business success

Former building site worker Fiona Morgan has seen takings go up by 100% after revamping Alexandra's cafe in Rotherham with help from the Rotherham Enterprise Project.

Fiona supplies a variety of hot and cold breakfast and lunch delicacies at her cafe in Parkgate, also creating delicious treats for corporate clients and customers.

Working to improve the Café's food and hygiene standards, she gained a four-star environmental health rating and now also provides first class buffet menus after receiving business advice.

Fiona said: "I've always loved baking since I was four years old and I can't believe how far I've come on my business journey in just a year.

"I'm now expanding the enterprise with Alexandra's Buffet Company as a standalone business and I've taken on four staff members. Things couldn't be better and this is a brilliant end to a successful year."

Her business coach Darren McDool is still in touch, inputting on her business plan and she has developed a unique airbrushing technique for her baking which has been used on Sheffield Steelers branded cakes complete with airbrushed logos.

Fiona added: "My business coach from the project has been fantastic, helping me shape ideas, offering me tips on how to tap into the market and tailor my branding. I also benefit from a free mentor and entered the Rotherham Enterprise Dragon's Den event – which I won!

"Setting up alone has been tiring but rewarding as I do all my own paperwork, national insurance and invoicing. But working for myself has enabled me to see the future more clearly – something which is not controlled by somebody else."

Fiona also finished as a runner up in Rotherham's Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2010

Jackie Frost of Rotherham Youth Enterprise said: "This is the end of an excellent enterprising year for Fiona who is a rising star in the business world and has proved this is only the beginning of a very promising journey for 2011."

The Rotherham Enterprise Project project offers professional support for businesses and is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Rotherham Youth Enterprise website

Images: Rotherham Youth Enterprise

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News: Alexandra Buffet Company impresses local Dragons

Fiona Morgan of the Alexandra Buffet Company has won the first Dragons' Den event hosted by the Rotherham Enterprise Board and UK Steel Enterprise.

A panel of local Dragons agreed that Fiona gave the best pitch at the event held at RiDO's Fusion @ Magna Business Centre, and she was awarded the prize worth £1,500.

The panel felt Fiona's passion and energy for her business shone through and were impressed that she had reinvested her profits not only in the development of her business but also in the local community.

Fiona said: "I'm honoured to have won the Dragons' Den Event. I have had offers of help and support from the Dragon's and audience members - never in a million years did I think this was possible and I'm very grateful for all the help and support!"

Fiona set up her business Alexandra Buffet Co last year, delivering delicious hand-made buffets to homes and businesses in the region. The idea sprang out of her other company - Alexandra's Café, in Parkgate.

Fionna added: "I got a call from a business asking to order one of my buffets from the menu. I hadn't got a menu and up until that point, I hadn't done buffets - but very quickly got the hang of it and delivered it all on time and to budget!

"I enjoyed it so much I set up my own company and it's been going from strength-to-strength. My cheesecake has become a legend and I'm often asked if I can pay people in food - I've got plumbing jobs and all sorts done in exchange for one of my cheesecakes!"

In a good month for the entrepreneur, The 28-year-old was also named as a runner up at the Rotherham Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2010 and received £250 prize money courtesy of Jackie Frost at the Rotherham Enterprise Network.

Rotherham Enterprise board website

Images: Rotherham Enterprise Board

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