Cause UK marks 15 years’ delivering positive PR

Based in Harrogate, Cause UK is run by two sisters, Clair and Ann Chadwick, and is unique thanks to its creative approach.

Since its inception in 2010, the agency has been dedicated to using journalism, storytelling and leveraging their media know-how to amplify the voices of organisations working to make a positive impact.

Its clients operate across the arts, public, social enterprise, tourism, health, education, and conservation sectors, as well as ethical businesses.

Cause UK has won multiple awards, including Prolific North’s PR Agency of the Year award in 2021 and is a certified B Corp organisation, which means it meets the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

It achieves significant media profile, helping clients boost footfall, revenue, awareness, and reputation.

Clair said: “We work to make a difference in a tangible, meaningful way for our clients, and for our own business. Being ethical is something we feel is integral to what success means, and we’re proud to have delivered a positive impact for 15 years. It isn’t just about chasing headlines, but chasing impact, and proving that PR when done well, can be a powerful force for good.”

She added “We’re really proud to have thrived as a small business for 15 years, and to have supported so many businesses and good causes to grow.”

Cause UK has provided Public Relations (PR) and marketing support to diverse organisations in the region, including Nidderdale National Landscapes, Visit Harrogate, and tourism attractions. For many years, it’s provided support to Leeds Hospitals Charity’s campaigns, including its high-profile Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Appeal.

One of the agency’s longest-standing clients is the leading social investor, Key Fund, which has provided support and services worth £76.6m to the social enterprise sector in the last 24 years, supporting thousands of jobs and organisations across the North, which in turn help address societal issues such as homelessness, employability, and food poverty.

Clair’s co-director Ann is also a feature writer, and writes stories directly for a number of media outlets, as well as helping position stories on the national news agenda.

Ann said: “One of the PR projects I’m most proud of is a recent one. We launched a lobbying campaign for the charity New Writing North to help secure a £5m DCMS grant towards a major new centre for the writing industries to be based in Newcastle. We positioned the campaign on BBC Radio 4 Today, the Guardian, the i Paper, Radio 2, and the BBC, and last month government announced the charity had successfully secured the grant. Their work will impact on generations of local talent and help to rebalance the southern-bias for the publishing and writing industries. To me, it shows the very real, meaningful impact intelligent, mission-driven PR can have for our clients.”

In 2022, the team commissioned an original stage play, The Man Who Captured Sunlight, to tell the story of Harrogate mayor, Samson Fox, working with the Fox acting dynasty; Freddie Fox and his mother, Joanna David, attended the premiere of the play at Harrogate’s Royal Hall.

During Covid, the agency was recognised with a cultural recovery grant from the Arts Council as a vital infrastructure support agency for the arts sector.

Cause UK helped relaunch the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra achieving significant national exposure. The orchestra reformed as a result of the pandemic to support freelance northern musicians, with conductor Ben Crick; Cause UK secured Alan Bennett as the new patron for the orchestra.

In 2023, the sisters produced a film for Sky Arts, Working Classical Heroes, commissioning an original soundtrack by Ben Crick. The resulting film was broadcast on Sky Arts, and won multiple film festival awards. It told the story of teenager Ellis Arey, a working-class lad and boxer who went on to study piano at Leeds Conservatoire. The role helped secure Ellis a part on the Ch4 show, The Piano, with Claudia Winkleman and a recording artist deal.

Clair added: “Reaching this milestone is a testament to our dedication and the trust our clients have placed in us. We’ve had the privilege of working with incredible organisations and individuals who strive to make a positive difference. Our mission has always been to meaningfully amplify their stories and causes, and we’re excited to continue this work in the years ahead.”