“We are thrilled to announce that Sheffield Chamber raised £500 for SCCCC’s!”
Sheffield Chamber is one of 53 Accredited British Chambers that make up a group of businesses who can network and connect through membership to their local Chamber. Sheffield Chamber is just one of the Chambers that IIC has onboard our platform and we are thrilled to be bringing this number up every day!
When Sheffield Chamber of Commerce first began searching for their latest CSR project after deciding that SCCCC would be their charity of the year, they came across the Investors In Community platform and instantly thought it to be a fantastic idea. The fact that there was no sign-up fee for charities and also no transactional fees from donations encouraged them to join almost immediately.
The platform made it so easy for their staff to get involved and after a few meetings and onboarding sessions, everyone was up and running and their first project was well underway. They encountered a few issues, with this being a fairly new platform, but were very pleased with the help and close attention provided by the team at IIC, if there was an issue it would be fixed as soon as possible. The fact that IIC is a local business meant that we were always easily contactable and we encouraged discussions about how we could improve our platform in the future, we always find that speaking to our users is the best way to find improvements and keep our platform on the rise.
SCCCC is a fantastic organisation who offer many exciting opportunities for the elderly, such as; Good Neighbours Scheme, Hospital To Home Scheme, A&E to Home, Temporary Key Safes and High Seat Chair Loan. A truly deserving organisation who Sam Christmas and Reece Farndale competed in a 10k ASDA foundation run for, their efforts did not go unnoticed and we are thrilled to announce that They Raised £500 For SCCCC’s.
We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for Sheffield Chamber and SCCCC’s whilst working with Investors In Community!
Here’s what the people involved had to say about Investors In Community:
“I would definitely recommend using the IIC platform, it provided a great introduction to businesses and made everything so easy!
I love that this platform offers charities the chance to make a really beneficial introduction to businesses who are excited to fundraise with them. It also makes businesses aware of their local charities and the really great projects that they can be involved in. I often find that whilst businesses are really keen to join in and help their community, they often don’t know what is it they can do, Investors in Community makes this process so easy.” – Ericka Hill at SCCCC
“Yes we would recommend IIC, it’s an innovative way to bring businesses closer to charities in their local community. We believe that with IIC starting out as a local business this means closer relationships can be formed and it feels more personal this way. We appreciate being included in decision making and find that IIC are always willing to take our ideas and suggestions on board!
We also love the fact that every donation made goes straight to the charity, there’s no sneaky percentage cut, £10 donated is £10 to your chosen charity.” – Elliot Richards & Reece Farndale at Sheffield Chamber of Commerce
IIC Platform See Increase in Charitable Giving in 2021.
Whilst 2021 has seen the continuation of the pandemic, the need to give back is stronger than ever. Whether local businesses are helping to support people with disabilities or donating laptops for home schooling children, there’s nothing quite like knowing your small act of kindness can have a positive impact on the world.
Many more businesses are recognising the value of giving back and Investors In Community, a digital platform which enables businesses to connect with charitable projects in their area and measure the impact of their Corporate Social Responsibility activities, has seen an encouraging start to 2021 as donations via the platform have grown by 18 per cent.
“Businesses have responded to charities in crisis by offering various kinds of support including volunteering and donating gifts in kind, and this is continuing. Those still looking for support locally include SCCCC’s, who are looking for people to keep in touch with our local older population. Mums in Need is appealing for old tech donations and we are hosting four fundraisers for Support Dogs’ Charity Abseil in May.” said Lisa Newton of IIC
“We also helped to make a success of Liniar’s Easter Egg project – collecting donations to support Derbyshire WISH, a supported housing project which provides emergency short term refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence.”
Get Your Tickets to the IIC & VNXD Event!
Now is the time to talk in a little more detail about Social Value through some peer-to-peer group sessions.
Who’s Speaking:
1. Supply chain transparency & social value – Louise Richardson
2. Empowering purpose-driven staff – Philip Webb
3. The challenge of measuring social value – Lisa Newton
4. Leading a team post-COVID – Dave Clarkson
5. How to market your purpose-driven business – Johnny Pawlik
6. How do I get a return on human social value – Richard Collins
We’ve also seen success in our company growth after welcoming five new Ambassadors to the IIC team including; Johnny Pawlik, Chris Arnold, Jeremy Taylor, Valentina Hynes & Ian Straw.
How To Make Giving a Habit.
Make It Easy – it’s important when trying to create a habit to make it easy. Using online giving platforms like ours ensures that donating regularly is as hassle free as possible.
Find What You Care About – take a moment to write out a purpose statement, ask yourself what motivates you and what are you interested in. If you love animals, perhaps a wildlife sanctuary is the charity for you. If you’re passionate about helping kids stay active and have access to sports equipment then maybe look into your local community sports clubs and donate to them. Find what interests you and then start from there.
Focus On The Reward – “habits are reinforced by rewards, and the good feeling of helping others is a huge reward.” Make sure you can see the impact of your donation, you can do this by following your chosen charity on social media or getting in touch to discuss what each donation enables your chosen charity to do.
Small Donations Can Make a Difference – ‘small actions x lots of people = big change’ any donation is appreciated, by donating whatever you can to your chosen charity, your small contribution is going to make a huge difference in the long term.
Don’t Just Donate Money – giving back doesn’t always have to be donating money, on Investors In Community, we facilitate the 5 forms of giving; funds, volunteering, skilled volunteering, pro bono & gifts. So if you’d prefer to donate your time, or even gifts, it’s so easy to get involved!
Start Small – any donation is appreciated no matter how small, If you’re worried about how you’re going to add giving to your routine (especially during a pandemic) make the decision to donate £5 each month. Soon it will become an exciting routine of picking a charity or cause you want to help and you’ll see the impact so often that each month you will find yourself wanting to donate more and more!
A Word From Our Ambassador, Stuart St V Fitzgerald:
“For me, the opportunity to volunteer with Investors in Community as its first global Ambassador, covering the NW of England in June 2020, was a total no-brainer.”
Investors in Community offers a way for every family, street, neighbourhood, community and council area to not only track but direct and manage the full engagement of businesses, employers across all sectors, their employees and the resultant investment of donated time, funds, gifts, skills and voluntary efforts into charities and community organisations which in the end delivers the true social impacts a civilised society needs to realise and from which its people can benefit.
It’s been a privilege and an honour to be so involved in the development not only of the platform but also the design of the imperative business cases that can be used to bring local; authorities, employers and citizens on this crucial journey as we create a really game-changing social movement.”
A Word from a Business On IIC, East Midlands Chamber & Lucy Robinson:
Director of Resources Lucy Robinson commented: “We were attracted to the platform initially due to its innovative use of bringing businesses & charities together. We particularly loved how easy the platform made giving back in our community and we’re very excited to use IIC more in the near future for our own fundraisers.”
EMC are the leading business representation organisation in the East Midlands region, the voice for business and the 2018 British Chambers of Commerce Chamber of the Year.
With a growing membership of more than 4,300 businesses – start up to scale up, local to global – the Chamber is renowned across the region for enhancing Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire businesses and communities.
The Chamber’s activity is so diverse and multifaceted that thousands of businesses from across the East Midlands and beyond put trust in the Chamber to help their businesses flourish and grow – irrespective of size or sector.
5 Simple Steps For Accessible Social Media – From Sense on The IIC Platform:
“Making social media more inclusive is easier than you think. Small changes can make a big difference for blind and/or deaf people interacting with your posts!
In this quick 5-step guide, we’ll help you understand how people with visual or hearing impairments use social media, and what you can do so that your posts are accessible.”
Sense recently launched their ‘Left Out Of Life’ campaign aimed at tackling social isolation and loneliness amongst disabled people.
“Loneliness has increased by a quarter over the last year, with nearly two thirds (61%) of disabled people feeling lonely always or often, rising to 7 in 10 (70%) of young disabled people.”
If you’d like to support this terrific cause, please sign their pledge and play your part in making society more inclusive.
We thought we would share some amazing charities with you as well!
Share My Telly Job
Thier mission is to promote a practical solution to hiring and crucially, retaining, experienced industry talent. They are advocating job-sharing to help all freelancers achieve a better work-life balance and continue to thrive in an industry they have dedicated their working lives to. If you’re interested in helping this wonderful organisation, please follow this link.
The Peter Pan Centre
There is no statutory support for pre-school education for disabled children, yet research shows that providing effective early help is the best way to improve their lives and life outcomes. If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link.
Weddy Friends
Weddy Friends are the PTA of Weddington Primary School, a group of parent and teacher volunteers who raise funds and put on events for the benefit of the children and parents. If you’d like to support this wonderful organisation, please follow this link.
Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People
Since 1994 they’ve opened their doors and hearts to children and the people who love them most. And now more than ever, they need your help to keep on bringing care and happiness to children and families. If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link.
Skiggle
The only disability charity of its kind in the UK dedicated to helping people with disabilities when they need it most. Skiggle facilitates and filters each request out to members within the closest geographical area to the SOS in the hope that someone can provide help from their own surplus supply of disability care products. If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link.
SAYiT
SAYiT’s Vision – To create an environment that supports the sexual and emotional well being of young people and empowers LGBT+ young people and those affected by HIV to transform their own lives and that of their peers. If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link.
Wild Futures
Wild Futures is a registered charity founded upon five decades of experience as a leader in the field of primate welfare and conservation, environmental education and sustainable practice. They are committed to protecting primates and habitats worldwide, with the protection of non-human primates at the forefront of their work. If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation, please follow this link.
Carlisle Youth Zone
Carlisle youth zone is a modern take on the Traditional youth club, with state-of-the-art facilities. It’s a safe and fun place where the potential of young people aged 7-18 (or up to 25 needing additional support) is developed and fulfilled. If you’re interested in helping this brilliant organisation, please follow this link.
Pursuit of Happiness
They are a not for profit organisation and here to make a difference for the black community. They are a Kirklees based organisation called ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ they have an ambition of making Huddersfield a more harmonious place in which the black community can thrive in. If you’re interested in helping this amazing organisation please follow this link.
We’re looking forward to the future of the platform and the future of giving with Investors In Community.
Investors In Community and Sense Charity are working together to promote the understanding of what it’s like to be deaf and blind from birth, the complex needs that each individual has and the battles each day just to live a fulfilling life.
‘For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind’ – Sense is here to help people communicate and experience the world. They believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential.
The essence of Investors In Community is to create a movement for good.
This movement seeks to connect all of those in our society: businesses and individuals, with charities, community groups and not for profit organisations.
Our platform is utterly free for all charities and constituted community groups, so any money that you donate goes directly to the charity – no middleman taking a cut! You yourself can also sign up to the platform and engage with other charities or even set up your own project that you feel passionate about whilst earning community credits that showcase all the support and donations that you have given.
We are the only platform to unify the five ways of giving, so if you feel you can donate some of your time or a gift in kind instead of money then you can provide much needed support at Rotherham Sense.
We would love to explore what we could do together and work with you and your team to support Sense and enable those affected to lead a more fulfilling life.
Industry-leading PVCu systems company Liniar has strengthened its community focus and commitment to ‘doing the right thing’ by joining the Investors in Community platform.
Designed to connect businesses with charities and good causes in their local areas, Investors in Community has helped facilitate hundreds of measurable volunteering hours, donations, and fundraising projects by firms across the country. The platform already supports the likes of Specsavers, Balfour Beatty and the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce with their CSR activity.
Liniar is part of the global Quanex group of companies, and ‘Communities’ is one of the four key pillars of its business, alongside Employees, Customers and Shareholders. With 500+ local employees and a strong presence within the Amber Valley District, Liniar has always been committed to supporting local causes. During the pandemic, it began the mass production of protective visors, and has so far donated more than 35,000 to key workers across the UK.
The team at Liniar will be using the Investors in Community platform to find charities and organisations to jointly support while also offering volunteering help to good causes. Group Managing Director Martin Thurley explains why Investors in Community appealed to the management team:
“During the last 12 months, Liniar has made a positive difference to many lives – you could say it’s in our DNA to do the right thing, and COVID-19 really highlighted this to us all.
“We see the Investors in Community platform as a streamlined way to expand the support we can offer as a business – we were particularly drawn to the way the charities receive 100% of any fundraising money. Our team will be able to find volunteering opportunities and other ways to ‘give back’ and the platform also offers the means for us all to measure and track the impact of our CSR activity.”
Group Marketing Director Sue Davenport continues:
“Investors in Community has been straightforward to implement and the team there have been very supportive in helping us to roll it out. We’ve already provided financial donations and support to two smaller charities who have seen a reduction in fundraising activities, as well as collecting items for food banks – our latest initiative is collecting Easter eggs for children who may not otherwise receive one – and it’s great to see the results of our efforts going straight to those who need our support.”
Philip Webb, managing director of Investors in Community, is thrilled to welcome Liniar to the platform:
“We love the ethos and values of Liniar and Quanex and their focus on local community connections.
“The reality is that there are thousands of charities and community groups across the country doing amazing work in places like Derbyshire. However, there’s still the tendency for corporate giving to be focused on the bigger charities that get a lot of media attention.
“It is great to be working with Martin, Sue and the team, and to hear that they want to extend the work they have done in the past to make a real difference in their local community and to make connections that have a lasting impact.
“For us, Liniar is leading the way with a focus on purpose being at the forefront of their business. We look forward to all of the staff engaging with local causes in a variety of ways.”
Aesseal are a company where CSR is a top priority: “We believe in operating in an ethical and sustainable manner, providing sealing solutions to our customers that improve reliability and help reduce energy and water consumption”.
St Luke’s Hospice care for people aged 18 and above throughout Sheffield who have terminal illnesses. They aim to control their symptoms, alleviate pain, and give them the best possible quality of life – all free of charge.
St Luke’s is not just for cancer patients, and it’s far more than a building. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that most of their patients never set foot in the Hospice itself.
Working in partnership for their patients, St Luke’s plays a central part in the network of palliative care nursing and support services in Sheffield, collaborating with many other organisations and agencies in the city.
Joasia Lesniak from St Luke’s said: “We are so grateful for the incredibly generous donation we have received through Investors in Community. Now more than ever, we rely on the generous support of our donors to ensure we can continue delivering our vital services to the people of Sheffield. The Investors In Community platform was very easy to use, the team there were very helpful and provided support every step of the way”
If you would like to donate to this amazing organisation please Click Here.
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 24th 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?
“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!
In 2020, Investors in Community announced a new partnership with Wakefield BID to help over 450 businesses in the city centre engage with charities and community organisations.
The charitable giving platform, helps firms to find good causes that need help in their local area, as well as measure, record and report other fundraising, donations and volunteering to show the full extent of their social responsibility.
As part of the new partnership, Wakefield BID will be showcasing the Investors in Community platform to its 467 members, encouraging businesses in the city centre to work together on collaborative projects that can make a real difference to those in need.
Via the platform, users can search for local charity projects all around the UK. They can then offer to assist by volunteering, donating, fundraising, offering pro-bono support, gifts and services. In return for their support, individuals earn community credits, which can be linked back to their employer, creating a tangible measure of the team’s CSR output.
For those companies wanting to get involved, each member of staff will get their own Investors in Community profile, opening up the potential for 160,000 new users across Wakefield.
Commenting on the new partnership, BID Director Christine Armstrong, said:
“As the new Director for Wakefield BID I’m keen to introduce both partnerships and initiatives that will create a sustainable future for our City. Investors in Community is one of those partnerships that will bring both the businesses and charity projects together, and from this we see a stronger community spirit forming and will lead to some great success stories we will all be proud to share and shout about”.
Phil Webb, Managing Director of Investors in Community, added:
“It’s a poignant time for us to announce this new partnership as there are many charities across the country experiencing huge funding shortfalls right now. It’s a time when the smallest of actions can make a real difference and, by working alongside Wakefield BID, there’s the potential for city centre businesses to make a big impact.
“When we set up Investors in Community, we wanted to create a way to unite individuals, businesses and charities in one place. It was also vital to us that 100 per cent of the money donated through our platform stays in the charity sector, so Wakefield BID members will know that every penny they raise or donate will go to those who need it most.
“Wakefield is the first BID in the country to use the platform in this way, with an ambition of creating a sustainable legacy via collaborative and meaningful initiatives. We hope to see more organisations of this kind following Wakefield’s lead.”
Wakefield BID joins a number of leading UK organisations that are helped by Investors in Community to manage their corporate social responsibility activity, including Balfour Beatty, Specsavers, Mansfield Building Society and Tomlinson Construction.
