Michael Norton

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Biographical Information

"Michael Norton is the Honorary Director and a Trustee of CIVA. His early career was in merchant banking (Samuel Montagu), where he invented the split capital investment trust and in publishing, where he helped establish the book club and mail order publishing division of BPC Publishing (part of the British Printing Corporation) which he became Managing Director of in 1970.

"In 1966, on an entirely voluntary basis, he set up the country' s first language teaching programme for non-English speaking immigrants in London which involved over 200 volunteer tutors, plus a separate 7-day a week supplementary school and youth programme for young Bangladeshis based at Toynbee Hall, which involved a further 50 volunteers.

"In 1971 he decided to pursue a career in the voluntary sector. Here are some of the other organisations he has been involved with: He founded the Directory of Social Change in 1975 and was its Director until 1995... He co-founded Changemakers UK in 1994 to find new ways of engaging young people in social action, and was its Executive Chair until 2001... He founded YouthBank UK in 1998 to enable young people to act as grant-makers, supporting local projects run by other young people... He co-founded UnLtd, the foundation for social entrepreneurs, which received the £100 million Millennium Legacy as an endowment... He chaired the International Year of Volunteers 2001 youth programme for England. He received an OBE in 1998 for services to the voluntary sector.

"He is the author of numerous books on fundraising and charitable status including 'Writing Better Fundraising Applications' , 'The WorldWide Fundraiser's Handbook' , and 'The Complete Fundraising Handbook' , all published by Directory of Social Change."

"founded and ran the Directory of Social Change; 1971-75: freelance writer and campaigner, Save Piccadilly Action Group; 1968-71: publishing, IPC; 1963-67: merchant banker, Samuel Montagu & Co." [1]

"1969-1972 British Printing Corporation (BPC Publishing) Personal Assistant to the Chairman, Richard (later Lord) Holme Managing Director of Purnell Book Services, the Book Club Division of BPC Publishing

"1972-1975 Freelance Writing: organising seminars and talks at eh ICA, CityLit and other venues; Adviser to numerous charities, including InterAction and the National Gypsy Education Council. Pro bono consultancy to Chiswick Women’s Aid to help Erin Pizzey establish the first refuge for women escaping domestic violence, and to produce a step-by-step handbook on using the law in such circumstances. Open University Tutor (art and environment, design and appropriate technology courses). Co-Cordinator of the Save Piccadilly Campaign, addressing issues of transport and redevelopment in central London. Architectural Association, ran a summer school programme on community participation (with Roger Graef)." [2]

He is married to Dame Hilary Blume.

Affiliations

• Chair, Sing London