Partners
The Championing CSR initiative has been funded through the joint funding between the East of England Development Agency Investing in Communities (IiC) Hertfordshire programme and the Diversity in Practice project. The Diversity in Practice project is part of a community programme called EQUAL - a European Social Fund initiative which tests and promotes new means of combating all forms of discrimination and inequality in the labour market.
The following organisations have been involved in this project:
Key Objectives
The following objectives have informed the delivery of the activity:
- Recruit and nurture four business champions of CSR from large employers, with a geographic spread. These champions will be ambassadors for CSR and will promote to their peers in the business fields the business case for engagement.
- Promotion of CSR in all its forms to companies in Dacorum in Year 1 - building upon current work to create a sustained service through business membership, which will be rolled out across Hertfordshire in Year 2. For more information on this local network please visit www.connectdacorum.org.uk
- Educate the business, community and statutory sectors on how CSR can benefit and how other sectors of the economy approach the issue. This will be through the production of a portal on CSR, toolkits, networking and training events.
- Build capacity within the Volunteer Centres in Hertfordshire to enable improved engagement in team and employee volunteering opportunities. This will include preparing models of service delivery which can be income generating in terms of building sustainability.
- Development of best practice training on CSR for Businesses and voluntary sector to understand better working relationships.
- Develop and run a best practice show case on Corporate Social Responsibility in the East of England.
- Develop and pilot two CSR courses with the voluntary and business community.
- The above objectives are being delivered by a range of partners in conjunction with the two lead organisations. Please see below for details on these organisations.
Exemplas
Exemplas is the lead partner in the Diversity in Practice Project, as well as managing project implementation. The Exemplas contribution offers effective and practical solutions which capture the expertise and experience of both providers and their customers; building on a long standing interest in engagement with the economy, Exemplas has also provided a platform of knowledge and expertise for the Championing CSR portal.
Exemplas is a non-profit distributing company which helps organisations to adapt and prosper. It was established in 1993 in order to set up and run Business Link Hertfordshire and has consequently built on the successes of this venture, developing an impressive and trusted reputation. With an impressive network of contacts on local, regional and national levels; a proven track record of successful project delivery through diverse funding streams; and expertise in policy and best practice in the areas of Diversity and Equality, Exemplas has married its professional capacities with its vision in the implementation of this EQUAL project.
For more information on Exemplas please visit the website.
For more information on the Diversity in Practice project please visit the website.
Community Action Dacorum
Community Action Dacorum is the lead partner in the Championing CSR project funded by the East of England Development Agency Investing in Communities (IiC).
Community Action Dacorum is a local umbrella organisation which aims to provide a circle of support to voluntary organisations and community groups. Our role is to promote and encourage all types of voluntary organisations in our area.
- Community Action Dacorum represents the interests of voluntary and community groups at district, county and regional meetings with government bodies. We lobby for policies and practices that meet the particular needs of communities across Dacorum.
- Community Action Dacorum brings people together to achieve more in their communities. We help groups to help themselves by organising local fundraising events, providing opportunities for sharing learning, formally and informally, and for networking at community lunches and seasonal celebrations.
- Community Action Dacorum links councils, companies and the communities we support. By combining our specific areas of expertise, we can make available resources go further across the borough.
Community Action Dacorum provides practical support to organisations wanting to develop and grow by offering meeting space, affordable photocopying and equipment hire, minibus hire, free fundraising advice and other guidance. - Community Action Dacorum connects the borough to the wider world through cultural celebrations, partnerships with like-minded organisations in neighbouring counties, and exchange visits to our counterparts in other European countries. We can learn much from each other, enrich our lives, and achieve more by working together
To learn about our work, please see the website.
Council for Voluntary Service St Albans District
There has been a CVS in St Albans District since 1976, although for most of the first 20 years it was managed and run on a small scale by volunteers. Significant change came about in 1995 when tripartite funding was granted from St Albans District Council, HCC Social Services and West Herts Health Authority enabling the appointment of a small staff team.
Ensuring we realise our mission to promote, support and develop the sector keeps us very busy, delivering many services and project activities. Our accredited Volunteer Centre sits at the heart of our organisation, attracting more than 1200 visitors a year, helped by our ‘high street’ location in Catherine Street, however the work we do to develop and build the capacity of voluntary and community groups is as important, for without healthy, sustainable organisations there would be no volunteering opportunities. Our advice and guidance services along with our training programmes are vital for a vibrant, modern sector. We also have a role to play in the setting up and steering of new projects and then withdrawing when they are up and running.
If you would like any further information please visit the website or e-mail: enquiries@cvsstalbans.org.uk
Hertfordshire County Council
Hertfordshire Community Foundation
Hertfordshire Community Foundation exists to tackle deprivation in Hertfordshire and beyond. To do this, we raise money from people and companies as well as local, regional, national and European government. We invest as much as we can into endowments, which are managed for us by professional fund managers.
We are here for the longer term.
- Our work to tackle deprivation is delivered in several ways.
- We try to make sure we have our facts right by commissioning or using high quality research. See The Hidden Need
- We give out as much grant aid as possible to organisations working towards similar purposes as ours.
We act as a catalyst between the private, public, voluntary and community sectors to encourage genuine corporate social responsibility. - We provide support to organisations in as many ways as we can.
- We make our information, and that of other grant sources, freely available. www.funding4herts.org
- In 2006/7, the Foundation issues grants to the value of £1,112,027 helping 236 groups to succeed
If you would like any further information please visit the website or e-mail: office@hertscf.org.uk
Volunteer Centres Hertfordshire
Increasing the quality and quantity of volunteering in Hertfordshire, by providing information, support and guidance to potential and existing volunteers, and to volunteer-involving organisations.
Volunteer Centres Hertfordshire are represented on the Championing CSR project by Volunteer Centre Dacorum.
Volunteer Centres have 6 core functions which are accredited by Volunteer England:-
- Brokerage - matching people interested in volunteering with voluntary opportunities
- Marketing - encouraging local interest in volunteering
- Promotion of good practice - promoting good practice in volunteer management
- Develop local volunteering opportunities - developing new opportunities for people of all abilities
- Policy response & campaigning - identifying and responding to proposals or legislation that may impact on volunteering
- Strategic development - networking at a local, regional and national level in the strategic development of volunteering
Stevenage Community Trust
The Stevenage Community Trust is an independent local charity that serves the communities of Stevenage and the surrounding villages by awarding grants for various projects. It was formed in 1990. It is also able to assist individuals in need who are referred via Third Party agencies. It has the ability to respond quickly to these requests. The Trust raises funds through membership subscription, donations, and fundraising activities.
Information can be found on the website or email info@sct.uk.net or telephone 01438 773368.
HCCI - Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The largest independent business service organisation in Hertfordshire. The Chamber supports businesses by, facilitating networking events across the county, representing the voice of business both locally and internationally, providing information and by working with educational partners to ensure the needs of the business community are met.
The Chamber can also assist businesses with their Corporate Social Responsibility aims and provide links and introductions to many other business support organisations. For further details visit www.hertschamber.com
BITC - Business in the Community
Business in the Community inspires, engages, supports & challenges companies to continually improve the impact they have on society.
Business in the Community is an independent membership charity with a purpose "to create a public benefit" inspiring companies to improve the positive impact of business in society. One of the Prince's Charities (HRH the Prince of Wales is our president) we are a business led charity with over 750 members including many "FTSE 100" companies. We have over 25 years experience of working with business to develop practical and sustainable solutions to manage and embed responsible business.
Joining Business in the Community is a public declaration and requires a company to commit to do three things: -
- Inspire, innovate and lead by sharing learning and experience.
- Impact on key social issues through collaborative action in areas of greatest need.
- Integrate, manage and measure responsible business practice.
Business in the Community can support you in delivering these commitments through their programmes (including "Cares" - an employee volunteering programme; Business Action on Homelessness; Business in the Environment and "Equal Engage"), through benchmarking and Awards, and by access to best practice and case studies. As well as being a unique movement of over 750 member companies a further 2,000 plus are engaged through our programmes and campaigns. We operate, both locally and nationally, through a network of more than 100 business led partnerships and 90 plus global partners.
