Trustees aims to raise £1 million
Chair of trustees aims to raise £1 million a year for the Rix Centre
Rudi Mueller, CBE, chair of the board of trustees of the Rix Centre, hopes to raise over £1 million a year backing for the Centre. “It is quite a difficult job,” he says of his fund-raising efforts.
These efforts have already gathered the support from the Aston Mansfield Charitable Trust, BP International Ltd, Bookend Enterprises Management Services, Inclusion International, Ken Lucas, the Jack Petchey Foundation and the Adolf H Lundin Charitable Foundation.
The latest filing with the Charities Commission shows that the centre gathered just over £400,000 a year for its research and development for multimedia for the learning disabilities community. This has come from grant-giving bodies, corporate sponsorship, private donors and supportive charities.
Small charities can have greater impact with low administration costs Mueller has set his sights on building further on this success. He realises that a small charity like the Rix Centre can have a large impact because most of the money goes into projects and is not swallowed up in huge administration costs. This is why he decided to become a trustee.
Mueller has plenty of experience in the world of commerce and banking. He was the head of the UBS bank in the UK. His other board memberships included membership of the Royal Opera House when it was going through its difficult transition refurbishing the Covent Garden Opera House. When Mueller was on the other side of the table as a banker and was asked for charitable donations he recalls “it was easy to say ‘no’ to people asking for money. Now I am on this side of the table it is quite a difficult job.”
Successful lunch hosted by Lord Rix
A lot of companies do accept their social responsibilities. Mueller and the other trustees need to get the message over to the heads of these companies. “We had a very successful lunch at the House of Lords hosted by Lord Rix,” he says. He was able to tell captains of industry about the work of the Rix Centre.
“I still believe the banking world can do more. It is easier to find somebody to give funds if you find a specific programme recognised by the Rix Centre, as far as the sponsor is concerned.”
Opportunities for branding projects
There are opportunities for the “branding” of projects for donors. Many banks are in East London at Canary Wharf and are therefore located alongside communities that face real hardship. The Rix Centre has used its position at the University of East London (UEL) Docklands Campus to build close working relationships with East London boroughs.
When considering becoming a trustee Mueller not only visited the Centre but also many of the people with learning disabilities and their families and carers in residential homes. “It was a real eye opener. I had never been directly involved in this field.”
Mueller was introduced to the Rix Centre by his friend Brian Baldock CBE, chair of Mencap. Mueller wanted to work with a smaller charity where he could really have an impact, he says.
He saw that it is possible to use technology to help people with learning disabilities to know more about themselves. “With a little bit of help they can know more about themselves and take up a job and even have a relationship.”
Building confidence for people with learning disabilities
He saw how much more confident people with learning disabilities can become, how much more of an independent life they can lead. “In some cases after a few months they can learn to live on their own without their parents,” he says.
Recruiting trustees
Mueller says he is not a technician: that is for the staff at the Rix Centre. “I, together with my board, am responsible for providing the finances.” Being a trustee is a responsibility and he is looking to recruit two or three other people to join the board.
The current trustees include: Jonty Rix son of Lord Rix and lecturer in inclusion, curriculum and learning at the Open University, Brian Baldock of Mencap and Anthony McClellan, businessman.
Mueller wants to diversify the board of trustees with women and people of different races and religions adding people with additional expertise and contacts. Trustees have responsibilities. “It is not just a nice line on your CV. There are major decisions to be made on funding, new programmes and people.”
SCIE support
As well as the trustees securing more funding he thinks that government could do more. The Rix centre works closely with SCIE, the Department of Health’s Social Care Institute for Excellence, co sponsor of the upcoming My New Media Life conference. A small amount more from government can have a large impact. The government does not give the level of support needed. “I am very disappointed by government involvement. The government should give more. Our programmes and the work of the Centre are remarkable for such a small team. With more funds this will be even better.”
The policies are there but the funding does not always match it and sometimes neither do the actions of government.
Parents deserve a medal
Perhaps if more potential sponsors of the Rix Centre could make the same trip that Mueller did, visiting the Centre and meeting the people it helps, they would be persuaded. “Some parents deserve a medal every day for what they do to support their child with learning disabilities,” Mueller says.
The Rix Centre is fortunate to be based at UEL, he says. The University helps with offices and infrastructure as well as expertise in its field.
To develop on its current success, Mueller thinks the Rix Centre needs more people and more work to promote its achievements. He would like to be able to make a stronger case to government and better presentations to potential sponsors. But it is all related back to cash. “It is difficult to raise enough funds to realise the business plan of the Centre,” he concludes.
