Our industry needs all of our support. We need a collective voice. We need to recover. We need to survive!

Therefore this #WeCreateExperiences just giving page, has been organised by HBAA to support this campaign: One Industry, One Voice.

Inspired by Rick Stainton, group executive director of creative agency Smyle, supported by the Business Visits and Events Partnership (BVEP), and shared across the entire trade event media by Martin Fullard, editor of Conference News, this cross-industry initiative aims to raise funds for the first ever UK-wide events industry PR campaign.

The message is to reassure through our safety expertise, inspire through the range of experiences we deliver and educate as a key driver for the UK economy. We are crowdfunding this PR campaign to show the public and national media the essential role meetings and events of all types play in their lives, our lives and the life of our nation. From celebrations to conferences, meetings to master classes, TED Talks to tradeshows, private weddings to product launches and everything in between, meetings and events are experiences that help us innovate, connect, experience and grow.

More than 100 businesses from all corners of the events and experiential sector signed up as founding funders without hesitation when we approached them at the end of July. Exhibition organisers, creative agencies, travel management companies, venues, suppliers, caterers, trade associations, trade press, festival promoters and the freelance community are all represented in a way like never before.

Businesses employing under 50 staff or up to £10m in turnover have pledged £250 towards the campaign, while larger businesses have pledged £500.

However, we know that there are many others out there working in the meetings and events, as well as experiential industry as SMEs, sole traders, and freelancers that have told us that they too would like to support this campaign. The HBAA have very kindly offered to help facilitate this, so this is your chance to contribute and help elevate our voice to drive even further support for the industry and for all of us who work in it.

We all know how difficult things are out there at the moment, but every little will help, so please give what you can afford. No sum is too small.

All proceeds raised, less Just Giving commissions, will be allocated to this project and any left-over amounts will be used to fund good causes, such as Mental Health First Aid Training.

Thank you to everyone who has already pledged money, resources, content and support. Please share this with everyone you know, within the industry and beyond. We are one industry, with one voice - this is what we do... #WeCreateExperiences

Please note your much-valued pledge is supporting One Industry One Voice; HBAA is a partner organisation in this venture and is acting as an authorised collection channel for funds.

www.wecreateexperiences.co.uk