Award-winning comms for social enterprise and charities
1284 works with social enterprises and charities, explaining your purpose, building your profile and evidencing your impact with stakeholders.
PR campaigns for CICs
As a social enterprise, your story is fundamental. Your purpose is what persuades people to support you. Therefore, your communications are key to setting out why you do what you do - and how your stakeholders can get involved.
1284 provides that comms support. We work independently or alongside your in-house teams in order to establish strategy and coordinate delivery of content marketing and media relations. We publicly connect your organisation’s mission to its impact - and we are non-profit trustees ourselves.
Social enterprises need comms strategy
Social enterprises need communications that balance commercial objectives with social purpose. A clear strategy helps build trust with funders, attract partners, demonstrate community impact and maintain stakeholder confidence as organisations grow and change.
Supporting fundraising and commercial
Building profile with stakeholders
Demonstrating impact in communities
Managing reputation through change
What our clients say
'1284 helped me understand new viewpoints and focus on what was key for our charity.'
Bodie Hodges Foundation
Our work with VCSE organisations
1284 Communications helps charities and social entrepreneurs explain their work, demonstrate their impact and build relationships with funders, supporters and communities. Our support includes strategic advice, funding applications, and B2B content that gives stakeholders a clear reason to get involved.
Community interest companies
Charities
Companies limited by guarantee
Services
We provide three core services
Communication strategy
Good planning gets you reaching the right people with the right messages - and measuring the results.
Content marketing
Effective content turns your ideas and activities into stories which resonate with your target audience.
Media relations
Gaining news and trade media interest builds your profile and supports visibility in online search.
Case study
Innovation at an entrepreneurial charity in its 150th year
1284 Managing Director George Oliver joined Charity Link’s board of trustees in 2019 and became Chair in June 2024. He had previously chaired its Trust Administration Service sub-committee, working with officers on developing an innovative strategic marketing project which helped increase cold inbound leads from SEO.
1284 has also supported Charity Link’s work to develop its corporate communications. Lauren Cropper helped officers develop a narrative aimed at large foundations, local authorities, and national funding programmes. This focused on drawing messages from the charity’s data, anonymised case studies, partner testimonials and presentation materials to shape clearer messages and supporting assets.
George also champions Charity Link among businesses, explaining its funding model and the value of corporate support. During its 150th anniversary year, he contributed written content and speeches to connect the organisation’s history with its modern ambitions in social enterprise and digital innovation - including work to better secure client and stakeholder data through achieving Cyber Essentials Plus.
Why choose 1284 for social enterprise comms?
Working with social enterprises requires an understanding of both their social mission and commercial challenges. Our experience in leadership, governance and communications helps organisations make informed decisions, strengthen their reputation and deliver measurable results.
We connect your comms to your mission
We provide NED-level advice
We bring experience of VCSE boards
We make comms measurable
1284 bring professional brilliance, as well as real warmth and humanity, to everything they do.
Read moreWorking with your team
Our people include Chartered professionals with wide industry experience and qualifications in management. We are confident in working alongside in-house marketing and fundraising teams as well as with your partners and stakeholders. 1284 regularly collaborates with nonprofit teams on both projects and retained campaigns.
FAQs about social enterprise PR
Do you work with charities, CICs and social enterprises?
Can you help us explain both our social purpose and our commercial offer?
Can you help with funding bids and fundraising materials?
How do you approach stories involving people who use our services?
Can you work with our trustees and leadership team?
Can you help if we do not have a communications team?
Clients
Local government PR insight
1284 NEWSLETTER
Gain a deeper insight
Our monthly newsletter is an easy read. You gain a 5-minute glimpse into useful comms for East Midlands SMEs - featuring everything from how journalists operate to why certain metrics are a waste of your time.