Member Article

Businesses donate over 8,000 hours and £180k for Yorkshire & Humber charities

Some of the best known businesses in Yorkshire & Humber have donated 8821 hours in staff volunteering and raised over £180,000 for worthy causes in Yorkshire & Humber alone.

In the countdown to Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Week on March 31, the figures from businesses including Croda, Logistik, Gi Group UK, KC and Zenith reveal how they have helped charities and local communities through fundraising and volunteering.

In addition to this, national companies with large bases in Yorkshire & Humber such as ASDA have donated 153,000 hours and £19,374,818 nationally to good causes.

Eversheds, who have a base in Leeds donated £517,440 through their charitable trust and gave over 3,000 volunteer hours across the UK.

Liz Needleman, area director England East of charity Business in the Community, said: “Responsible Business Week is an annual opportunity for businesses of all sizes to demonstrate their positive impact on society, share new ideas and do more to tackle environmental and societal challenges.

“As the compelling figures show, contributions from Yorkshire & Humber based businesses have made a real a difference in local communities”.

“We hope that events throughout the region during the week will inspire more businesses to become involved in responsible business activity over the next 12 months.”

Last year more than 1,500 people across the country took part in the first Responsible Business Week. Yorkshire & Humber businesses are encouraged to organise their own activities during the week or take part in events across the region.

Gi Group UK, Croda, DWF and Logistik are collaborating on the Leeds Community Skillswap at 1.00pm on March 31 at DWF on Water Lane.

The free event will give skills and ideas to community organisations and businesses who want to support them.

Sharon Ward head of Sustainability at Logistik, said: “Logistik are backing Responsible Business Week as we feel it’s important for other companies to learn how simple and yet completely rewarding it can be getting involved in their local community.

“Over the past year we’ve donated 1,850 hours of our time to local projects helping them to develop and increase what they’re able to do with their charities and organisations but also giving our employees time to hone their skills in a unique and interesting way.

“BITC’s Responsible Business Week is a great opportunity to show your support to a better way of working.”

For more information or to take part in Responsible Business Week (March 31 – April 4 2014), visit www.bitc.org.uk/rbweek to register your interest.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .