Clipping from page 20 of the South Wales Echo reporting on the Business in the Community's Community Impact Leadership Team, titled 'Country's top businesses are taking on social issues', Cardiff, 18 November 2014

Disgrifiad

Clipping from the South Wales Echo featuring an article about Business in the Community's Community Impact Leadership Team, titled 'Country's top businesses are taking on social issues', published 18 November 2014. The Community Impact Leadership Team was made up of ten senior representatives from Welsh business with the aim of championing BITC's community impact work. There is a photograph of the team in a warehouse with the caption: "Business in the Community volunteers at Cardiff Foodbank for Wales Action Week PAUL FEARS"

“Wales Action Week utilises the energy, skills, passion and expertise of business to raise the profile of an emerging social issue.” Source: www.bitc.org.uk/wales/what-we-offer/wales-action-week, accessed 26/3/17.

Business in the Community is the Prince’s Responsible Business Network. Their members work together to tackle a wide range of issues that are essential to building a fairer society and a more sustainable future. Source: www.bitc.org.uk/about-us, accessed 26/3/17.

Transcription:

Country's top businesses are taking on social issues

Author/Byline: Rupert Hall Business Reporter [email protected]

MORE than 20 of Wales' leading companies have worked in partnership to tackle social challenges across the country as part of Wales Action Week.

Organisations volunteered at foodbanks, packaging food donations ready for distribution.

They have also been to clothes banks, helping sort, organise and label clothes in the donation warehouse, and held employability workshops, helping people form the skills they need for a job or work placement.

Other schemes include supporting sporting events as scorers, organisers and other roles to encourage young people to try new sports and different types of exercise.

The organisations leading the way were part of Business in the Community's (BITC) Community Impact Leadership Team.

The team was made up of 10 senior representatives from Welsh business with the aim of championing BITC's community impact work.
Legal & General, Castle Leisure and Principality Building Society sponsored Wales Action Week.

A range of organisations were also involved including, Acorn Learning Solutions, A F Blakemore, Carillion, Enterprise Rent A Car, Lloyds Banking Group, Wales & West Utilities, PS Partnership and John Lewis.

Representatives from the Community Impact Leadership Team volunteered at Cardiff Foodbank.

Rosie Sweetman, BITC Wales Director, said: "I am delighted that some of our most significant and respected businesses have taken up the mantle and driven Wales Action Week forward on behalf of BITC. It speaks volumes for how beneficial and rewarding organisations have found volunteering initiatives such as this and research previously undertaken by BITC indicates that 96% of participants feel the time required to participate as a volunteer was rewarded by the benefits of the experience.

"Importantly, the positive impact for local communities who gain essential assistance in taking projects forward and learning new skills is invaluable."

Lynne Sheehy, corporate social responsibility manager for Legal & General, said: "We see Wales Action Week as a very important part of our employee engagement programme and a key platform, not just for employees but for the business too, to help do more in our local community.

"It not only gives our staff a chance to take part in work they may not have previously experienced, but it assists in improving staff communication and morale."