Firms and charities team up for a better Swindon

Yet, aside from the odd charity run, skydive and cheque presentation once a year, partnerships between local firms and community groups have historically been volatile and fleeting in Swindon.

Or at least they were until, last year, business connector Ian Browne took matters in his own hands and set out to build lasting collaborations between the private and charity sectors - encouraging non-profit groups and large corporations to harness each other’s strengths and bolster social and economic change in Swindon – together.

And the results have been startling.

“Simple gestures from businesses can make such a fundamental difference,” he enthuses. “This is a different approach from what often goes on like fundraising and giving money to organisations. That’s always needed but there are so many other things they can do to help like sharing their knowledge and expertise. What we’re trying to do in Swindon is help businesses understand that they succeed when the local economy and community is successful.”

The Lloyds Banking Group employee took a 12-month career break to join charity Business in the Community’s Business Connectors programme last July. Supported by the Big Lottery, the nationwide scheme appoints a connector – a sort of “broker” on the ground - to bridge the divide between the corporate and charity sectors in relatively deprived towns or areas of social and economic disparity and give them a platform to tackle social issues.

The concept of corporate social responsibility is nothing new and large firms, or leading banks like Ian’s employer, have enshrined the principle of giving back to their community in their business practice for years. But smaller or independent companies have been slower to see the advantages of linking up with local support groups, community projects or even schools.

The benefits may seem one-sided: charities soak up businesses’ support and expertise while the businesses themselves give time and resources away for free.

But Ian and Business in the Community do not see it that way. They believe the scheme is mutually beneficial and in some regards far more for the firms involved as it sows the seeds for long-term change.

“Say as a business you want motivated skilled staff and not end up in a price bidding war with Bristol, Bath and Oxford for the cost of hiring them, then you already have an interest in local schools, speaking to students, help them identify what careers are available to them in Swindon,” says Ian, who will return to his job in branch transformation and design at Lloyds Bank in Bristol when his year-long term as Swindon’s first business connector ends this month.

“You have to think long-term, even down to economic wealth – if you’re a retailer you’re only succeeding if there is wealth around to buy your goods. As business connectors we help connect the dots.

“One thing I’ve noticed is what we take for granted in business. The knowledge and skills that we use every day is sometimes desperately needed in the voluntary sector. They don’t have the budget to go on training courses and access it.”

As part of his role Ian has been instrumental in brokering a successful partnership between Swindon Academy and The Brunel. Many of the shopping centre’s store managers including Sainsbury’s, Waterstones and Boots have held employability workshops for students, to identify their strengths, build their confidence and allow them to narrow down possible careers suited to their personality and skills. The Brunel is also helping Recycles, a bike repair enterprise for the homeless run by the Salvation Army, to start a pop-up store at the shopping centre.

Thanks to his efforts, M&S has offered youth charities Catch 22 and Inner Flame’s users work placements at its café to bulk up their CVs.

“As a town we must support our young people in finding a route into work and, at M&S, we are committed to playing our part in tackling youth unemployment,” says M&S store manager James Shorney. “Providing work experience opportunities for young people is a fantastic way to help them gain vital employability skills for the workplace.”

M&S also linked up with Catch 22 by donating food surplus to the study programme’s weekly CatchUp Café. This was a win-win: the supermarket was able to reduce food wastage while allowing Catch 22 users to get their hands on free produce and learn valuable skills in the kitchen to add to their CV.

“We never know what we are going to get, so it can vary from 10kg of tomatoes to 50 packs of wine gums; but on a day-to-day basis it is things like bread, vegetables and fruit, flowers and plants and cupboard supplies like cooking sauces,” says Laura Holmes, Catch 22 project manager.

“It has been wonderful, as we are now able to use some produce to cook dishes for our CatchUp Café which runs on Fridays, but also able to run Ready, Steady Cook sessions for some of our students on Wednesdays. Our lovely volunteer, Debs, gets the food delivery and then show students how you can create delicious, cheap dishes from basic ingredients, we then all get to sit down and eat lunch together. We use the bread to give our students breakfast and lunch every day – many of them are living away from home, so it’s an extra way of us helping them.

“We have also been able to develop links in the Rodbourne community by taking flowers, chocolates and cakes out to our neighbours, all courtesy of M&S.”

Under his lead, Lloyds Bank in Old Town also started volunteering to read to Goddard Park Primary School pupils, many of whom do not speak English at home, to bring their literacy skills up to scratch, broaden their horizons through children’s fiction, and hopefully raise their aspirations.

“The children eagerly look forward to their session and are gaining in confidence as readers," explains Goddard Park deputy headteacher Bev Mann. "An added bonus is for children to meet different adults; find out about their lives and families, the work they do and how important reading is in their role. All the volunteers have been delightful people; bringing something different to the role as well as providing positive role models for the children. It has been a pleasure having them all in school.”

Many more firms have jumped on the Business in the Community bandwagon. Thamesdown Transport will soon team up with the Horizons project in Eldene to deliver computer and digital skills workshops for the elderly.

He may be preparing to pass on the baton to his successor Lucy Sheppard but Ian plans to work until the very last second of his term.

“It’s a life changing experience for any business connector,” he smiles. “The fact that it’s just 12 months makes you work really hard, because every day has to count – there are no do-overs. My greatest satisfaction is watching these relationships grow and businesses take up the mantel and start making these connections with charities themselves. I know my job is done.”

To get in touch with Ian, email Ian.Browne@bitcconnect.org or call 07740698706. Alternatively visit www.bitc.org.uk.