Over the last couple of years, many businesses have put themselves forward to help and take a larger role within their communities through the some of the consequences of the Covid crisis.

When a local business joins with a local community organisation (community group, charity, social enterprise), they can together make great things happen and affect their local communities in life changing ways.

When a business raises funds for a large national charity, they do good work, but often have little idea about the difference and the impact that has made. However, whether you support a community organisation in the long-term or in bite-sized, time limited ways, when a business supports a local community organisation it knows the difference it will make and what its support will achieve.

At Support Cambridgeshire we recognise that local business has a major role to play in the health and well-being of local communities. We would like to help develop mutually beneficial, impactful and strategic partnerships between the business and community/charity sectors.

Benefits of working with a local community organisation

Businesses experience a multitude of benefits when they donate charities, they gain even more when they build relational and meaningful partnerships.

There are a few reasons why your business should consider working with a charity.

Charitable giving is good PR, and it makes sense for business, especially for small businesses that depend on their communities for custom, goodwill and recommendations.

People want to support small and medium-sized businesses now more than ever. Working with a community group demonstrates that you give back to your community and are in business for more than profit. As an SME, you won’t see as large a tax deduction as big corporations and enterprises do, but you will find other greater benefits. Don’t overlook the other benefits of philanthropy.

Company culture is important to future and current staff, and your workers will feel good about working for a company that gives back. Younger staff, in particular, value working for a company that is positively involved in its community. A company involved in its community sees improved team morale, customers are more likely to feel good about supporting the company and perhaps be prepared to commit their loyalty without the cost and fuss of a loyalty card scheme.

There are many ways you can help and assist beyond a monetary donation.

Perhaps the most readily available way your business can support a charity or community organisation.

Gifts in kind

Local business can often provide meeting venues free of charge or low-cost, or assist in supporting community events.

Products and services

Local business can support community organisations with products and services. Perhaps providing a preferential rate for community organisations?

CSR working with VCSE

Partnerships

For those businesses and business leaders who would like to make a more long-term and deeper and more meaningful partnership with local community organisations based, perhaps, on shared values or mutual interest, a formal or informal partnership may be worth considering.

Getting to know a charity or community group can help develop both the business and the community organisation.

What are the values of your business? When you align these with a charity that holds similar values avenues of opportunity open to both organisations.

Your long-term involved and engaged support will organically draw out different and interesting ways that you can work together to support your community.

When businesses and community organisations get to know each other, explore their shared values and ways of working and find a mutually beneficial way of working together. We know the charity and community sector, let us know about you and we can help you start your journey toward a mutually beneficial and impactful partnership.

We can help

At Support Cambridgeshire, is keen to help bring businesses and community organisations together so that they can get to know each other, explore their shared values and ways of working and find a mutually beneficial way of working together. We know the charity and community sector, let us know about you.

To find out more about helping, supporting and working with local community organisations contact us.