Back Up plans to grow its corporate income in order to deliver its life-changing services to more people. Support from companies has doubled in recent years and in 2016 the corporate fundraising team increased from one to two staff.

Back Up’s corporate partners fall into two main categories: affinity and non-affinity companies. Non-affinity companies are often introduced to Back Up by an employee with a connection to the cause. Their focus is motivating staff to fundraise through different events, which helps to build teams and strengthen morale. Back Up offers a training session on using a wheelchair, which broadens understanding of disability.

Affinity companies are those with an interest in spinal cord injury. These companies gain brand awareness amongst key audiences and the charity receives financial and other support. An example is Coloplast, which is a long-term supporter of the charity and was the headline sponsor for Back Up’s wheelchair skills training programme in the UK’s 11 spinal centres from 2008–16. Coloplast provide products to make life easier for people’s intimate healthcare needs, such as bladder and bowel management. Staff volunteered to help run each training session where they also distributed product information. This gave an invaluable insight into the challenges that their customers face.

Sean McCallion, Corporate Partnership Manager at Back Up says: ‘One-to-one communication is vital for building relationships.’ He keeps in touch, with regular telephone calls, twice-yearly face-to-face meetings, and a monthly tailored newsletter, which offers partners