BNI News

SEAFORD BUSINESS NETWORK SUPPORTS
LOCAL CHARITY

A BUSINESS network based in Seaford raised £165 for St Wilfrid's Hospice in Eastbourne following a 10 minute raffle.

The Cuckmere chapter of Business Network International (BNI), which meets at The Beechcomber every Thursday morning, raised the money at a recent meeting.

The proceeds of the raffle were handed to Fundraising Manager Jancine Potts of St Wilfrid's Hospice last week (February 1 2007). BNI Cuckmere chapter director Gary Maskell, of Icon Business Solutions, said: "We fully support the work of St Wilfrid's and are pleased to have raised £165. The businesses that are part of BNI in Cuckmere are committed to supporting worthy local charities and causes. St Wilfrid’s provides invaluable support to many people every year, which is why we will be supporting the charity throughout 2007."

Picture above: Gary Maskell hands the cheque for £165 to Jancine Potts of St Wilfrid's Hospice.

Jancine Potts said: "This cheque is very welcome as support from local business is always being sought. It is particularly relevant that all these businesses come from the Seaford area as we support a large number of patients and their loved ones form this area.

“It costs £2,400 a week to provide a single In-patient bed at the Hospice.
To provide all our services, it costs £8,767 a day and this year our running costs will be £3.4 million. We only receive 13% of that from the NHS and rely, for the remainder, on voluntary contributions. Without people like these businesses and individuals, it would be impossible for us to meet the needs of the many patients and their families and friends that need specialist care in our community.”

There are currently 32 different businesses represented at Cuckmere BNI. Membership means that competitor businesses are locked out of the group and business is passed exclusively between members. The group is currently looking to recruit new members. If you would like to be part of this successful group, contact us by e-mail or call 08707 650293

To date the Cuckmere chapter has 32 members and has passed over 1200 referrals this year. A total to date of over 6800 referrals since January 2001.

Each referral averages out at a value of about £320 (according to national statistics) which means BNI Cuckmere has potentially passed over £2.5 million of business since its start.

Yes, as a business opportunity it really works. If you are interested in joining please contact any of the members or call 01323-893006.

If anyone has any news they would like posted on this page, them please e-mail it to: