BW appoint fundraiser for new charity

British Waterways has appointed a head of fundraising for the new waterways charity that will be launched in 2012.

Ruth Ruderman has a background of fundraising with Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth and the homelessness charity, Crisis.

In 2005, when she was direct marketing manager at Crisis, she launched an ethical Christmas Pudding scheme in partnership with Harrods.  They sold 8,000 puddings and raised £200,000 for the 'open Christmas' program that gives food and clothing to the homeless. 

That year she won the Professional Fundraising Magazine top award for her 'innovation, personality, commitment and contribution to the sector.'

“The nation’s 200-year-old canals need a sustainable plan for their future, said BW's director of marketing, Simon Salem, "And voluntary fundraising will be an important part of this. Ruth will lead the waterways charity into a new era of voluntary giving — it is one of the most exciting fundraising challenges around right now.”