Cool to be KindCool to be Kind

Promoting progression, not aggression

The projectThe project• Cool to be Kind was started by me and my Cool to be Kind was started by me and my

partner, Anthony Headpartner, Anthony Head

• We have enlisted the help of our good We have enlisted the help of our good friends and fellow animal ambassadors friends and fellow animal ambassadors Carolyn Menteith, Jon Langley and Marie Carolyn Menteith, Jon Langley and Marie Miller Miller

• We launched the project on January 1We launched the project on January 1stst 20142014

What we doWhat we do• We share acts of kindness and stories of happy We share acts of kindness and stories of happy

endings/new beginnings through social mediaendings/new beginnings through social media

• We promote the important message, it’s Cool to We promote the important message, it’s Cool to be Kind to animalsbe Kind to animals

• We connect with animal welfare organisations We connect with animal welfare organisations around the worldaround the world

• And we help raise funds so that we can support And we help raise funds so that we can support people just like youpeople just like you

Monthly awardsMonthly awards• Every month we ask for online nominations for a Every month we ask for online nominations for a

Cool to be Kind award Cool to be Kind award • Every nomination means more people learn about Every nomination means more people learn about

those organisations and/or individuals that deserve those organisations and/or individuals that deserve recognition for acts of kindness shown to animalsrecognition for acts of kindness shown to animals

• The winner receives a certificate, 20 free The winner receives a certificate, 20 free wristbands and a silver medalwristbands and a silver medal

MerchandiseMerchandise• We know that money is always tight in the We know that money is always tight in the

world of animal rescueworld of animal rescue

• We understand why many organisations We understand why many organisations cannot afford to invest precious resources cannot afford to invest precious resources in their own fund raising merchandisein their own fund raising merchandise

• So we thought we would produce our own So we thought we would produce our own and lend a helping handand lend a helping hand

WristbandsWristbands

• We designed wristbands that are debossed We designed wristbands that are debossed with the slogan COOL TO BE KIND and four with the slogan COOL TO BE KIND and four animal footprintsanimal footprints

• The footprints are of a deer to represent The footprints are of a deer to represent wildlife, an equine, a dog, and a catwildlife, an equine, a dog, and a cat

• Small hearts make up a part of each footprintSmall hearts make up a part of each footprint

BrandingBranding

• Our merchandise does not carry any Our merchandise does not carry any brandingbranding

• This means anyone can sell our This means anyone can sell our products without promoting anything products without promoting anything else apart from the message it’s Cool to else apart from the message it’s Cool to be Kindbe Kind

We help funds go furtherWe help funds go further

• Each retail sale through our online shop at Each retail sale through our online shop at Tilley Farm generates approximately eight Tilley Farm generates approximately eight free wristbands that we donate to animal free wristbands that we donate to animal welfare organisationswelfare organisations

• When we sell a wristband for £2.40 (plus When we sell a wristband for £2.40 (plus tax) the purchaser knows they have raised tax) the purchaser knows they have raised almost £20.00 for animals in needalmost £20.00 for animals in need

Cost price/free merchandiseCost price/free merchandise

• If we cannot fulfil every request for free If we cannot fulfil every request for free wristbands, we supply the wristbands at cost wristbands, we supply the wristbands at cost priceprice

• The animal welfare organisation keeps all the The animal welfare organisation keeps all the profit from their salesprofit from their sales

• We do not retain a penny for ourselvesWe do not retain a penny for ourselves• And we do our best to cover postage tooAnd we do our best to cover postage too

PublicityPublicity• We also know that many smaller We also know that many smaller

organisations struggle to promote their organisations struggle to promote their wonderful work wonderful work

• They may not have access to well known They may not have access to well known people that can help raise awareness of people that can help raise awareness of the vital work they dothe vital work they do

• We knew that we could assist on that We knew that we could assist on that front toofront too

We got it wrong!We got it wrong!

• We bought 500 wristbands in January We bought 500 wristbands in January 20142014

• We thought it might take a while for the We thought it might take a while for the idea to catch onidea to catch on

• We are very pleased to say WE WERE We are very pleased to say WE WERE WRONG!WRONG!

AwarenessAwareness• The wristbands sold out quickly but luckily we The wristbands sold out quickly but luckily we

had ordered morehad ordered more• We donated wristbands to animal welfare We donated wristbands to animal welfare

organisations, including Dogstar Foundation in organisations, including Dogstar Foundation in Sri LankaSri Lanka

• Then we asked our cool, kind friends to wear a Then we asked our cool, kind friends to wear a wristband and help us help animals in needwristband and help us help animals in need

Benedict CumberbatchBenedict Cumberbatch

The story so farThe story so far• 65,000 people saw the photo of the lovely Benedict 65,000 people saw the photo of the lovely Benedict

Cumberbatch in just a few daysCumberbatch in just a few days• Dogstar sold all their donated wristbands in 24 hoursDogstar sold all their donated wristbands in 24 hours• This funded the neutering of four street dogs in their This funded the neutering of four street dogs in their

TNR campaignTNR campaign• And thanks to robust sales, we were able to donate And thanks to robust sales, we were able to donate

moremore

And so it growsAnd so it grows• We have sold/donated over 18,000 We have sold/donated over 18,000

wristbands to datewristbands to date• Thanks to our supporters, we have been Thanks to our supporters, we have been

able to send free wristbands to over sixty able to send free wristbands to over sixty animal welfare organisations around the animal welfare organisations around the worldworld

• And more cool, kind friends are offering their And more cool, kind friends are offering their supportsupport

Sarah Michelle GellarSarah Michelle Gellar

Seth GreenSeth Green

Paul McGannPaul McGann

James MarstersJames Marsters

Alan DaleAlan Dale

Mark GatissMark Gatiss

Lena HeadeyLena Headey

Kim BodniaKim Bodnia

Nathan FillionNathan Fillion

Jeremy Irvine & Addison TimlinJeremy Irvine & Addison Timlin

Wang ChungWang Chung

Jonathan Rhys-DaviesJonathan Rhys-Davies

Your Dog MagazineYour Dog Magazine

PromotionPromotion

• Any organisation that stocks our Any organisation that stocks our wristbands can use the photos of our wristbands can use the photos of our cool, kind friends for sales promotioncool, kind friends for sales promotion

• We will be creating additional We will be creating additional merchandise in the coming months so merchandise in the coming months so that we can continue to share the that we can continue to share the message, and raise vital fundsmessage, and raise vital funds

Our wristbands have…Our wristbands have…• Bought toys, treats, harneses and chews Bought toys, treats, harneses and chews

for shelter dogs in Italyfor shelter dogs in Italy

• Helped Red Panda Romania create an Helped Red Panda Romania create an enriched play area for the dogs in their careenriched play area for the dogs in their care

• Purchased hay for starving horses in Purchased hay for starving horses in IrelandIreland

• Covered the bill for three weeks food for Covered the bill for three weeks food for rescued exotic animals in the care of rescued exotic animals in the care of Grace’s Rest in the UK Grace’s Rest in the UK

• Encouraged children in Ireland to Encouraged children in Ireland to organise Cool to be Kind days at their organise Cool to be Kind days at their schools, thanks to a wonderful schools, thanks to a wonderful organisation called the Grass is Greenerorganisation called the Grass is Greener

• Helped raise funds for Animals AsiaHelped raise funds for Animals Asia

• Paid veterinary, feed and care bills to help Paid veterinary, feed and care bills to help elderly, unwanted and abused animals in elderly, unwanted and abused animals in France, Spain, Cyprus, Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Cyprus, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Sri Lanka, South Africa, the USA, Israel, Sri Lanka, South Africa, the USA, Portugal, Slovenia, Greece and the UKPortugal, Slovenia, Greece and the UK

• Raised money for physiotherapy and Raised money for physiotherapy and specialist care for sick and injured dogsspecialist care for sick and injured dogs

• Bought milk for orphaned kittens in the care of Bought milk for orphaned kittens in the care of One Paw at a time Cat Rescue UK, and helped One Paw at a time Cat Rescue UK, and helped pay their feed and vets bills toopay their feed and vets bills too

• Fed orphaned wildlife at Secret World, and Fed orphaned wildlife at Secret World, and raised money for many other wildlife hospitalsraised money for many other wildlife hospitals

• Supported the extraordinary work of SPA Supported the extraordinary work of SPA Pomurja, SloveniaPomurja, Slovenia

A little goes a long, long wayA little goes a long, long wayI was blown away by this simple, yet effective concept. Asking people to give without offering something in return can be difficult so the bracelets are a perfect reward.

Wearing them helps to spread the message and buying a bracelet means that more charities get bracelets for free. Perfection!

I was sent free wristbands to sell for Galway Cat Rescue and I simply emailed my friends and the bracelets flew off my desk. Within 3 days they were all gone and I dropped off just over 100 euros to help cover vets bills.

Thank you Sarah and Anthony and keep up the great work. Linda.

Thank youThank youWere it not for ICAWC, this project may never Were it not for ICAWC, this project may never have startedhave started

Were it not for our amazing supporters we Were it not for our amazing supporters we could not have achieved all that we have been could not have achieved all that we have been able to achieve so farable to achieve so far

We would like to thank everyone who has We would like to thank everyone who has played a part in helping us connect with so played a part in helping us connect with so many incredible organisations around the world many incredible organisations around the world

Cool to be KindCool to be Kind

Inspired by ICAWCInspired by ICAWC

Created for youCreated for you

www.cooltobekind.org.uk