Reflecting On 2020 & Looking to The Future of 2021.

In 2020 Investors In Community saw some great achievements amongst the chaos. Early on we received the great honour of being recognised by IBM through Cognition Foundry for an IBM Beacon Award!

“For over 20 years, the IBM Beacon Awards have recognised Business Partners for creating exceptional solutions using IBM products and services. You take risks, solve problems, and use undeterred imagination to spark innovation. Cognition Foundry developed a bespoke platform for Investors In community (IIC) to help companies manage their HSV in a transparent, efficient and engaging way without reducing the value of contributions to charities.”

Then towards the end of the year we were honoured again through East Midlands Chamber, where we won the Community Impact Award for our continuous efforts to better communities throughout the UK. Check out the picture of MD Phil Webb and Business Development Director Dave Clarkson accepting our Community Impact Award!

We also saw success in our company growth after seeing a 68% increase in the number of charities using the platform since March, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, British Heart Foundation and Mind. The growth has resulted in two new additions to our team with Juliet Thompson and Nadea Van Der Merwe appointed as Relationship Manager and Executive Assistant.

IIC Helps Bring Charities Together to Tackle Homelessness in Wakefield.

After Wakefield BID invited us in to help businesses and charities in the Wakefield District, we quickly formed a new partnership with Wakefield Council and the Street Support Network.

The aim was to build an awareness campaign and encourage individuals and businesses to help local charities who are supporting vulnerable people and tackle the challenge of rough sleeping in Wakefield.

The Street Support Network which is active in 26 locations across the UK found the IIC team and platform was the ideal partner to help verify, manage, and measure all the giving from individuals to the charities. IIC worked closely with the Communities Team at Wakefield Council as part of the Councils remit to help the homeless and those who are looking to transform their lives in the City.

The initial project involved IIC bringing 24 charities onboard and is still running across the Wakefield District. The campaign has been so successful that Wakefield Council have also tasked IIC and the platform with a further campaign to help with all the Food Banks from across the district.

Save The Date!

We are also hosting an event on February 24^th discussing ‘how to unite purpose in your business through Human Social Value’.

This online event will bring speakers together from current businesses and the next generation of inspiring leaders. Through workshops we will hear from experts on the economic value of social impact, employee engagement and good human social value.

By the end of the event we will have answered these questions and more:

1. How can my business measure its social impact?
2. What process and tools do I have in place to measure our impact?
3. What contribution does my business bring to our communities?

Please purchase your tickets here.

A Word From Our Ambassador, Jo Thackwray:

“Giving back is an integral part of who I am, which is why I jumped at the chance when Investors in Community asked me to join them as an Ambassador. Raising awareness of Human Social Value and the positive impact this makes is a shared responsibility for us all, I am so glad to be part of the movement”.

About Jo – With a great passion for developing people, Jo is an EMCCEIA Life & business coach supporting people to find their inner superpowers to have their moment to shine. Alongside coaching, Jo provides a consultancy service to all Charities big or small.

Jo also presents the mid-morning show on Inspire Radio, bringing well-being and self-development tips to the airwaves. However, her most important job is that of mum to her 3 grown-up children. and Granny to her 2 new grandsons. She loves spending time with them and their growing families navigating all life’s many challenges along the way, along with her lovely partner, Alan, and his 2 girls too.

A Word from a Business On IIC, Liniar & Sue Davenport:

Group Marketing Director Sue Davenport commented: “We were attracted to the platform by its ease of use, and particularly the fact the charity receives 100% of the funds, which is as it should be. It was easy to set up our account and although it’s early days, we believe Investors in Community will help us to support more projects than ever, as well as tracking our progress and reporting on the outcomes.”

Liniar is one of the leading PVCu extrusion companies in the UK, designing eco-friendly and energy efficient products such as windows, bi-folding doors, conservatories, decking and fencing.

Formed in 1974, Liniar now employs in excess of 500 people, with a turnover forecast at £100m in 2021.

The company has always had a focus on helping good causes within its local community in Derbyshire, and this was solidified during the pandemic in 2020, with Liniar manufacturing protective visors and donating them to key workers and the NHS.

Liniar decided to partner with Investors in Community at the start of 2021 in order to get its whole workforce involved and make the process of giving and volunteering much easier.

IIC Platform Update:

This feature releases direct debit recurring monthly and single payments into wallets and directly to good causes. Projects have been excluded because of the transaction delay while a Direct Debit is processed.

Users Can Now: 

• Setup single donations into business or individual’s wallet (3 to 5 days processing time)
• Setup recurring monthly donations into business or individual wallet (3 to 5 days processing time)
• Setup single donation directly to a good cause by individuals and businesses (3 to 5 days processing time)
• Setup recurring monthly donation directly to a good cause by individuals and businesses (3 to 5 days processing time)
• Recurring monthly payments and transaction history can be managed from the ‘wallet’ tab in individual and business user profile.

We thought we would share some amazing charities with you as well!

The Trauma Centre Ripon

An inclusive trauma centre for adults and children are looking for funds, volunteer guest speakers and gifts for their arts & crafts sessions. If you’re interested in helping this wonderful organisation, please follow this link.

Sense

Sense believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfill their potential. Sense also have their free BSL school, if you’re interested in signing up, please follow this link.

Rain Rescue

Rain Rescue believe every dog and cat deserves the right to a good life free from fear and pain. Just £10.00 will pay for an hour of care for an Animal Care Assistant to help many beautiful animals. If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link.

Street Paws

They provide relief from animal suffering by providing free accessible vet care via a team of veterinary volunteers, to support homeless people and rough sleepers to care for their pets. If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link.

Teenage Cancer Trust

#TeamScape are fundraising for Teenage Cancer Trust and they have raised £280 of their £1,000 goal!  If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link.

Camphill Village Trust

They have officially reached their goal of £500 for their ‘A Life of Opportunity’ project! Your generous donations help them support adults with learning and other disabilities in their home life, work, social and cultural activities through our ten urban and rural communities and services in England. If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link.

Grimm & Co

They have raised £250 of their £2,000 goal to be able to decorate the space in a beautiful, imaginative way so if you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link

Freedom Community Project

Freedom offer free advice and support such as Listening Ear, Debt Advice, Mental Health Support and much more to people within the North East Midlands, South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire. If you’re interested in helping this brilliant organisation, please follow this link.

The Buddy Bag Foundation

The BBF Challenge Box is a unique opportunity for businesses to support a local cause. The challenge is split into two parts. Firstly, team members are tasked with procuring all of the items you’ll need to pack 30 Buddy Bags. Secondly, you’ll get together to pack the bags! If you’re interested in getting involved, please follow this link.

We’re so glad you could join us through 2020 and we’re looking forward to doing even more great things in 2021!