This year the Group made charitable donations totalling £152,000. In addition, and in line with previous years, we have contributed resources with a value equivalent to at least 1% of our annual pre-tax profits (through cash, employee time and expertise, or use of our facilities) to projects which benefit the communities we serve. Our employees fundraised £69,000 for charities this year.
The ‘Care for safety’ scheme, which encourages employees to reduce accidents and associated lost time, has triggered payments over £16,000 for our charities nominated by employees (Great North Air Ambulance Service, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Myelin Project, Zoe’s Place, Macmillan Cancer Support and St Cuthbert’s Hospice). Since it began in 2004 over £326,000 has been raised for charity.
Community Foundations covering our areas of supply hold endowment funds totalling nearly £1.0 million contributed by NWL over the last 19 years. These are long term investments with the income from the funds used to support community and environmental initiatives. Community groups are chosen by committees of our own employees (44 recipients this year).
In addition to cash donations, we seek to support many projects through in-kind giving and support. Through ‘Good Moves’ we aim to put NWL estates into productive community use. Working in partnership with artist’s groups CoExist and Metal, we have developed a temporary art project at our empty Southend complex to provide space for a temporary gallery, studio and small creative business complex.
