About BigPinkHeart

“BigPinkHeart’s mission is to raise awareness about positive social behavior and encourage Respect in order to help create and nurture a civil society.  We achieve this through our community and prison workshops and through our school events.”

We are a not-for-profit, voluntary organisation and our passion is Respect (yes, with a capital R!). Respect means a lot of things to many people but without doubt it has to start with self! Our projects and events explore the meaning of Respect and how we feel it and show it to others.  It's not just about being kind and treating others how we would like to be treated.  That's just a small part of Respect.  It's also about tolerance, acceptance, self-esteem, awareness.  Read on and find out more about us!

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What do you mean by 'respect'?

Respect means many things to different people.  So, for BigPinkHeart this means learning and understanding the following about ourselves: to feel love, kindness, tolerance, trust, honesty, integrity, humour, patience, confidence, humility, forgiveness, acceptance, ability, understanding, happiness, achievement, worth.  The list could be longer!  So if we can feel some of those things about ourselves we can then start to treat others similarly! Respect - isn't it wonderful?

Why does Respect have an initial capital?

At BigPinkHeart we feel Respect is such an important word and without it our lives and communities and societies are lacking! So, we have given it a capital R and we usually use it along with BigPinkHearted Respect!

Is respect the same as being kind and considerate?

That is certainly one of the important aspects of Respect.  If being kind and considerate to ourselves is how we would like to be treated then why shouldn't we show the same 'Respect' for others.  However, Respect is not just about being kind and considerate - see above!

How do you hope that BPH will change behaviour?

BigPinkHeart wants to be able to encourage people to think more about our behaviour.  How our thoughts direct our actions and how those actions impact on others.  Perhaps we have made an unkind assumption about someone else and we have acted on that assumption.  Can you imagine being on the receiving end of such unjust treatment?  We wouldn't like it so perhaps instead of acting before thinking, first think about how we would feel before doing so.  It's simple.  Living in communities is like teamwork.  If we don't start working as a team then our communities are going to become more fractured.  Let's be more tolerant of others and let's not expect to have everything handed on a plate - working hard for a better way of life that will endure has to be better than a 'quick fix' that comes too easily and goes just as quickly!

What are the issues you want to tackle as an organisation?

Well, that's a difficult question.  However, we are working along the lines that Respect is something that is relevant to us all and yes, there are those in our communities that feel they don't need the services of BigPinkHeart or need to understand the message!  We don't agree!  There has been an ever growing change in our communities.  Communities have become more fractured and 'teamwork' isn't as prominent as it used to be.  It is now so much more about 'me' or 'I' than 'we' and 'us'!  Just think about it - the programme of Citizenship didn't exist in schools 30 years ago and yet there was still a sense of 'community' in this country.  What has happened in the meantime for us to have to 'teach' children all about 'Citizenship'?  BigPinkHeart is also working to help reduce isolation of the elderly and to help change the record of the youth of today (with their help!). 

What are the unique skills that BPH can bring?

Our projects and events don't come with lectures!  It is more important to encourage long term behaviour change through the value of experience!  We all know how great we feel after a positive event or as a result of being BigPinkHearted, well that's what BigPinkHeart strives to achieve in all our projects and events.  But the skill we believe that is more important than any other is that we are passionate in our belief that a positive change for the future can be achieved when we work as a team.

Can you give examples of what you want to acheive?

Yes, we would very much like to change the 'labels' that some people have been given because of a particular attitude or way of life.  Those 'labels' will prevent those people from succeeding in changing a negative way of life for a more positive one.  Our work in prisons focused on this very point! Again, this boils down to teamwork - we won't lecture and we won't make assumptions but we trust those who come on board with us to work with us and WANT to make positive changes.  Respect starts at home so that's our starting point on any of our projects. 

Can you give examples of what you have acheived?

Yes, our prison project in Wellingborough 2010 was a great success with the prisoners who took part giving us wonderful feedback.  We also had great insight and energetic discussions during our Taster Sessions in HMP Ranby. The showcase presentation that the prisoners in Wellingborough created was very entertaining but also conveyed a strong message and illustrated some of the hurdles prisoners experience in trying to go 'straight' when they are released from prison.  It wasn't a 'sob story' - just an insight into how not everything is how it first appears!

Our intergenerational book club, You, Me ... We has been running for over a year now.  22 people have attended the Oakham branch and 12 books have been read.  We have been asked to review 2 books by a national publication, BookTime.  A branch in Stamford has been launched and branches in Grantham and Surrey are in discussions.

Our Bridging the Generation Gap project which first ran in January 2009 was a great success and with some funding we have decided to start this project up again.  This time we are working in partnership with Age UK.  

The Respect Theatre Workshop project was a roaring success in prison so we are launching the same project in our communities.  Contact us for more information. 

How is BPH funded?

We struggle like most third sector organisations!  However, we receive wonderful support from local organisations who donate services in kind and we have received funding from Northampton Community Foundation, The Evergreen Care Trust, RAF Cottesmore, Vinvolved, Task Force Funding via Lincolnshire, plus private donations and fund raising events as well as our fantastic supporters purchasing our T Shirts!

We are also in the process of publishing a series of books for children and an exciting incentive scheme!  Not only will the books be great to read with children but the incentive idea will be fun and exciting as well as encouraging awareness of behaviour!  Contact us for more information!

How can I get involved with BigPinkHeart?

Register with us and let us know how you can help!  We are very interested in hearing from anyone wishing to start up one of our book clubs or a school that would like to run one of our events!  Volunteer with us and we will keep you busy!