Legacy fundraisers - Don't be put off by Sarah Pochin's comments

I don’t usually mix politics with legacy fundraising, but I'm concerned by Sarah Pochin’s comment that she is “sick to death of seeing Black and Asian faces on TV.”

It is true that the number of Black and Asian people in adverts does not reflect the UK population. I'm not going to discuss why she said this “drives her mad” — I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

What really worries me is how comments like Pochin’s might influence fundraisers who are planning campaigns and adverts. They should not.

A few years ago, I was one of those Asian faces in a legacy fundraising TV advert — for about three seconds, alongside my colleagues. I did it for two very real reasons:

1. To reach and connect with a more diverse audience.

2. To connect with colleagues who, like me, did not always fit the traditional 'mould'.

So please, don't be put off. Keep showing real people. Keep showing all of us. Representation matters — not just to tick a box, but for the sole purpose to connect.

Hope you all have a great weekend.