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Conference and Events Organisers

• Asphaleia Events. 41 Thorn Road, Worthing, W Sussex, BN11 3ND, phone 01903 522966, email: aevents@asphaleia.co.uk

• Blueprint Conference and Events# Taking the blueprint and turnign it into a successful event: conference organisation, event management, training and team building, away days.

• Event Management Systems Third off for charities, according to a scribbled note! 67 Plashet Road, London, E13 0QA, phone 020 8472 9011, email: info@emsltduk.com

• Green & Away 'organisers of environmentally sound conference and events'. PO Box 40, Malvern, WR14 1YS, phone 0870 460 1198, email: info@greenandaway.org.uk

• Promarta organise events from small seminars to major conferences for several hundred delegates. They can handle the whole process or parts you may be less confident about or not have the time for - e.g collection and processing of delegate fees, mail outs, pack preparation and on-the-day registration. Online booking and a bookings website are now standard. They point out that "if you are staging a conference you should be participating and networking, not handing out delegate packs and badges!" Phone 0845 130 2038, email: events@promarta.co.uk

Outdoor events and activity organisers

• Across the Divide organise charity challenge events all over the world including the UK. Phone 01460 30456.

• Charity Challenge Run expeditions themselves (similar to Classic Tours) which charities can benefit from, but may be a source of ideas too. 3rd Floor, Northway House, 1379 High Road, London, N20 9LP, phone 020 8557 0000, email: info@charitychallenge.com

• CharityTrek A Glasgow based specialist.

• Classic Tours The people behind many of the charity treks and cycling challenges. Phone 020 7619 0066, email: info@classictours.co.uk

• Skyline Professional events organisers of adventurous fundraising events, UK and worldwide. 35 Britannia Row, London, N1 8QH, phone 0870 905 5577. email: info@skylineevents.co.uk

Venues

Some of the voluntary organisations under Local Contacts, particularly in the larger urban areas, have their own or info on other facilities. Many universities are set up to provide conference facilities, often making use of student accommodation out of term time - too many to list here, so do a web search on 'university conference facilities' or similar.

• Commonwork Centre Kent Residential/non-residential conference centre run by an educational charity with an environment programme. Commonwork Land Trust, Bore Place, Chiddingstone, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7AR, phone 01732 463255.

• Hillscourt In the attractive Lickey Hills on the south western edge of Birmingham, owned and operated by teachers union NASUWT. Hillscourt Conference Centre, Rose Hill, Rednal, Birmingham, B45 8RS, phone 0121 457 8370, email: conference.centre@mail.nasuwt.org.uk

• Hothorpe Hall, Theddingworth, Leicestershire. 85% of groups booking are from Charities, Churches, Local Authorities or National Health, and they aim to provide value for money but quality facilities. Theddingworth, Leics, LE17 6QX, phone 01858 881500, email: office@Hothorpe.co.uk

• Knuston Hall Northants Residential conference and training facilities in a 17th century manor house in 40 acres, used by the likes of Oxfam, Help the Aged, Victim Support. Knuston Hall, Irchester, Wellingborough, Northants, NN29 7EU, phone 01933 312104, email: enquiries@knustonhall.co.uk

London

• Avonmouth House (part of etc venues) Used by various charities and housing bodies. 6 Avonmouth Street, London, SE1 6NX, phone 020 7378 1547, email: avonmouth@etclimited.co.uk

• The Space at Centre for Public Innovation. Open, light, bright and airy rooms at Hillgate Place on Balham Hill. Contact Egle Kaminskyte, phone 020 8675 577, email:  thespace@publicinnovation.org.uk Discounts for voluntary organisations.

• Charity Centre Meeting and training venue used and run by Directory of Social Change. 24 Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2DP (near Euston station), phone 020 7209 1015, email: charitycentre@dsc.org.uk

• CLIC Consortium of Central London conference venues owned by charitable foundations: English Speaking Union, Goodenough College, Methodist International, Park Crescent Conference Centre.

• King's Fund, which provides resources for the health and social care sector, has a venue which hosts small meetings and seminars to formal conferences and presentations, in central London.

• Mary Ward House Meeting rooms, conference and exhibition cnetre. facilities etc. Willing to consider special rates for voluntary and community organisations. 5-7 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SN, phone 020 7387 9681.

• Royal Horticultural Halls Big stuff, but connected with a charity (RHS). 80 Vincent Sq, London, SW1P 2PE, phone 020 7828 4125, email: horthalls@rhs.org.uk

• ORT House Conference Centre. Connected with Pavilion Publishing (who produce health/social care training materials, and also organise events in this area). Discounts for charities.126 Albert Street, Camden, NW1 7NE, phone 020 7446 8509, email: pavilion@ort.org

• Westminster Central Hall Has smaller rooms as well as large ones, suitable for a variety of events, meetings. Costs vary month by month. Storey's Gate, Westminster, SW1H 9NH, phone 020 7222 8010, email: events@c-h-w.com

Venue finders, agencies, directories

Venue finder services usually operate by charging a commission to the venue on any bookings handled, even when they advertise as providing a free service.

General, commercial

• Azora Events provides a venue finding service, and seems to be charity friendly.
  
  
• British Association of Conference Destinations Venue location service covering over 3000 places - queries (online or otherwise) answered in 2 to 4 days. Sixth Floor, Charles House, 148-149 Great Charles Street, Birmingham, B3 3HT, phone 0121 212 1400, email: info@bacd.org.uk
  
  
• CLICK4venues Online venue search and management.
  
  
• Conference Consultancy Provides a venue finding and booking service.
  
  
• Focus Venue Finders Has worked with Barnardo's, Oxfam, Cancer Research UK.
  
  
• LastMinuteVenues Search for a venue, arranged by region.
  
  
• tsnn, 'the exhibition resource', also has a venues directory.
  
  
• Venuefinder.com A service from Conference Blue & Green, there is an A to Z index and regional search facility, info on special offers.

Specialist

• CCI# Association of Christian centres provides venue finding service to Christian based organisations.

• RoomBookers. Booking agents for a range of (mainly charity run) venues, currently focused on central London. Phone 020 7916 5463, email: info@meetingplacelondon.com

• RentaHostel It is possible to rent some Youth Hostels for exclusive use.