Our work during COVID-19

During COVID-19 we have been working with our clients on important issues that matter. Below is a showreel of some of the campaigns we have been working on with our clients:

UK Biocentre

UK Biocentre has transformed its laboratories to test swab samples for COVID-19 on an industrial scale.

Barley has been supporting UK Biocentre with communications advice, working closely with DHSC, and UK Biocentre partners to ensure the work of UK Biocentre staff and the volunteer scientists is reported accurately.

Hear more from the people who helped make this possible – click the video below.

Feed The Frontline

Feed The Frontline is an initiative from new charity The Healthworkers’ Support Foundation which has been established in response to the COVID-19 crisis, delivering thousands of parcels of fresh produce to healthcare workers. Borough Market spearheaded the campaign to deliver thousands of bags of fresh fruit and vegetables to four London hospitals. Bradford St James Wholesale Market followed suit, working with Leeds Cares to deliver to hospitals in Leeds.

Barley led the media outreach programme and secured 44 pieces of coverage including BBC Radio London, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian.

Man packing food bags for Feed The Frontline

National Trading Standards
Unscrupulous criminals are exploiting fears about COVID-19 to prey on members of the public, particularly older and vulnerable people who are isolated from family and friends. National Trading Standards is warning people to remain vigilant following a rise in coronavirus-related scams that seek to benefit from the public’s concern and uncertainty over COVID-19.

COVID-19 scams identified include:

  • Doorstep crime
  • Online scams
  • Refund Scams
  • Counterfeit goods
  • Telephone scams
  • Donation scams
  • Loan sharks

We devised and delivered a hard-hitting media campaign for National Trading Standards to raise awareness of these COVID-19 crimes and help prevent more people being scammed.

This led to 60+ pieces of coverage, including BBC News, The Guardian, Metro, Daily Mail and The Times. This coverage has led to a seven-fold increase in new sign-ups to the scams prevention campaign Friends Against Scams and the story overall has led to 10k+ new registrants.

National Trading Standards - Coronavirus Scams

Guide Dogs

Barley supported Guide Dogs in their bid to break the Guinness World Record for the biggest virtual tea party.

32 celebrities, including Martin Clunes, Sir Andy Murray and Dame Julie Walters supported the fundraising effort.

We developed media materials to encourage the public to join the party to help Guide Dogs break the record and donate the price of a cuppa. We delivered blanket coverage including features in the Daily Telegraph, BBC Breakfast, Mail on Sunday, Daily Mirror, Sun online and Metro online, as well as an unforgettable interview with Martin Clunes in his pyjamas on Good Morning Britain.

The result was over 5,000 people posting a selfie of themselves enjoying a cup of tea on the Guide Dogs Facebook page. Many dogs made an appearance in the pictures and there were even some horses, donkeys, chickens and a hedgehog. A new world record was set, and the event raised over £43,000 in funds for Guide Dogs to continue their vital services supporting people with sight loss and their families

Martin Clunes and his dogs join the Guide Dogs virtual tea party

We’d like to thank all our clients, Barley colleagues and partners for their wonderful support.