Throughout the month of May we offered a preview of the Hay Festival in a series of discussion events.

Soho House has teamed up with the UK non-profit organization Peace One Day (POD), to support their goal of institutionalizing Peace Day 21 September and their call for a Global Truce on Peace Day 2012. ‘POD Talks: Getting Above the Noise’ (June 16, Royal Overseas League, London SW1A 1LR) is the latest in POD’s exciting series of quarterly speakers events.

This latest event features a stunning line up: Davina McCall, Ben Fogle, David de Rothschild, Rosie Arnold, POD founder Jeremy Gilley & more. These inspirational all-day events present a great value opportunity to learn from some of the world’s finest communicators, network with like-minded entrepreneurs and learn how to get above the noise. You can also learn more about the groundbreaking work of Peace One Day.

For more information and tickets go to: www.podtalks.org

In 2010 the Soho House Group sponsored four European artists and filmmaker to travel to Kibera, Africa’s largest slum, in order to engage with the community through the grass-roots charity Oasis Africa, and to create work reflective of the lives of people in Kibera, to ultimately raise funding and awareness for the charity’s tireless work through an exhibition and auction. The creative elements of this project were largely orchestrated by Claire Fouche who has a background in creative arts and jewelry design.

Oasis Africa was developed in 2005 to build community-based primary schools in Kibera and provide food, water and security to the orphaned children of the slum. For some time this small not-for-profit-organisation has offered a mainstream curriculum which includes academic subjects such as Maths, English, Geography.

However, in 2009 Oasis Africa identified an increasing number of students with a notable creative talent. Currently, these children are not offered places in secondary schools, despite having clear ability and drive, and consequently return to slum life.  

Oasis Africa approached the Soho House Group for support in the creation of Little House; a vocational centre offering education in creative skills, such as photography, art and design, ceramics and carpentry, together with business studies.

Given the extensive database of creative members within the Soho House Group, we have identified a clear opportunity to help the ever-increasing needs of the artistic and creative children of Kibera.

On Thursday 10th March, Jewellery designer Stephen Webster and his wife invited a group of their friends down to Babington House to watch a 20 minute film. When all is Gold, is the title of the 20min film, created by Stephen with the NGO Solidaridad. about the world’s first Fair Trade gold mine.

In January 2011 Stephen travelled to Peru to experience firsthand the difference that Fairtrade certification will make to small scale and artisanal mining communities, as well as to trace the origin of this precious metal.

Kirsty Young hosted The Ultimate Pub Quiz at Shoreditch House on the 1st February to raise vital funds for youth homelessness charity Centrepoint. Charity ambassador, Kirsty Young, who has supported Centrepoint for over 10 years took to the hot seat as quizmaster picking celebrities’ brains.

Team captains and celebrities on the night included Davina McCall, Sara Cox, Michael McIntyre, George Lamb, James Corden and Richard Bacon. Teaming up with Centrepoint corporate supporters, the teams were quizzed on a series of questions spanning the 40 years since Centrepoint was founded, in which it has supported over 70,000 homeless young people.

Kirsty Young said: “I have been a Centrepoint ambassador since 1997 and firmly believe in the value of the charity’s work. It is vital that we work together to end youth homelessness and ensure vulnerable young people are given a chance in life.”

Seyi Obakin Centrepoint’s CEO said: “Centrepoint supports over 800 young people everyday and this event has helped raise vital funds to provide more homeless young people with a safe place to sleep, where they can start to build a brighter future. It also helps keep the issue of homelessness in our minds during the current harsh winter”.

www.centrepoint.org.uk