1000 Businesses Connect With National Youth Charity

LONDON, September 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Britain's biggest business networking organisation, BNI (Business Networking International) today established a charity partnership in London and Birmingham with Get Connected. BNI believes young people are vital to the UK's economic recovery and, as Get Connected is the leading helpline service for under 25s in the UK, the organisations complement each other. Together they plan to apply the BNI principle of 'Givers Gain' to engage over 1000 businesses to support children and young people in the community.

http://www.getconnected.org  http://www.bnilondon.com  http://www.bnibirmingham.com

BNI members made over £245 million last year from referrals passed at breakfast and lunch meetings across the UK. Established in 1985, BNI operates over 5,866 chapters with 139,971 members worldwide, making it the most successful business referral organisation in the world. BNI and Get Connected believe what is good for the community is good for business and want BNI members to benefit from the same advantages larger corporations have enjoyed through proactive corporate social responsibility programmes (CSR).

Get Connected is the free, confidential helpline service for children and young people under 25 in the UK, who need help for any problem but don't know where to turn. Get Connected's service is available via phone, email, text, Webchat and WebHelp 24/7, its online directory, every day of the year. Calls to Get Connected are free of charge from all landline and mobile phone networks. Get Connected's Helpline Volunteers help with a wide range of issues such as: Abuse, Bereavement, Bullying, Depression, Disability, Drugs, Eating Disorders, Emotional Problems, Family Relationships, Homelessness, Mental Health, Pregnancy, Rape, Self-harm, Sexuality, Suicide and Violence.

With an average of three children's support services closing down every week and 19 million young people under 25 now living in the UK, demand for Get Connected's comprehensive service is greater than ever. Last year, Get Connected's team of 118 volunteers were contacted by more than 60,000 young people - over 160 every day! Now awareness building, volunteer recruitment and fundraising are the charity's three vital goals in order to meet continuing demand.

Both BNI and Get Connected are excited about the opportunities and benefits their new collaboration will bring. BNI strives for member retention, new members and visitors, which can be achieved through increased chapter energy encouraged by joint BNI-Get Connected social events. Meanwhile, Get Connected is looking forward to gaining access to BNI member training to improve networking skills and broaden its network of supporters, moving the charity closer to the community through local businesses. BNI and Get Connected share an important trait: they are one-stop shops for the community. BNI provides local businesses with a strong network of industries at their fingertips, while Get Connected supports and signposts young people to the most relevant service for their issues, from a trusted database of over 13,000 organisations nationwide. In particular, BNI and its members will benefit from the positive CSR this partnership offers: research has shown that consumers feel more positively towards a company or service if they are involved in a cause related marketing programme.*

The partnership will launch in Central London on Wednesday 12^th October 2011 at The Long Acre pub, Covent Garden with the first ever BNI-Get Connected "Quizzers Gain" Extravaganza. Entry is open to all BNI members. Tickets are £10 per person and £50 per team of 5 in advance. Please email oboylel@getconnected.org.uk

There will also be a BNI-Get Connected Dragons' Den Dinner at the end of November 2011 with a chance to pitch to the 'Dragons' to win a fabulous prize. To register your interest as a BNI member, please email oboylel@getconnected.org.uk

For more information, exclusive interviews and images, please contact: sophie.munro-faure@jdi.co.uk or call +44(0)2085-631414.

Get Connected. Head Office: PO Box 51719, London, NW1 5UH. Registered charity no. 1081840 http://www.getconnected.org

*Source: Business in the Community Cause Related Marketing Brand Benefits 2003.