The first ever ‘Leicester Giving Day’ is set to launch tomorrow – an initiative designed to encourage businesses to engage with local communities and charities, and to create partnerships through the offer of treasure, talent or time.
Developed by social responsibility consultancy, Embark CSR, Leicester Giving Day will take place on Friday, November 18, and is a platform for local businesses to showcase their philanthropic support for charities and local communities. It is also an opportunity to allocate their staff some time during the day to raise money or to help their local community organisation.
Company’s are being encouraged to sign up to support the initiative, which launches tomorrow (Thursday, September 29). Those who want to participate will commit to allocating time or resources, and enable staff to plan a fundraising or gift in kind event to take place on Leicester Giving Day itself, which is November 18.
Businesses will deliver their projects during Leicester Giving Day with the proceeds going to the charity or community group of their choice.
“Leicester Giving Day is about celebrating what Leicester already does well, and encouraging more people to get involved in giving,” say Leicester Giving Day Founders, Chris Shaw and Stacey Wragg from Embark CSR.
“Leicester Giving Day will shine a light on the people that go out their way every day to help others.
“It will encourage local businesses to devote Friday 18th November to showcase the work they do to support local charities and community organisations. Hopefully it will enthuse companies that haven’t started on this journey to see the benefits of giving back to their local community.
“We also want to create a day that gives people the opportunity to get involved in a fun and engaging way,” they added.
“They can get practical help to address pressing issues, such as the cost of living crisis, or their mental health, career opportunities, or the arts. Community Hubs will enable members of the public to get involved with a wide range of charities.”
The Leicester Giving Day strapline is ‘Treasure, Talent and Time,’ which means participants can raise funds, volunteer their services, or help out through gift in kind support, such as offering unwanted IT or office equipment or proving specialist help to charities.
Leicester Giving Day includes three more exciting components.
Throughout the day there will be four Community Hubs operating in the city, showcasing organisations that work across four themes: financial poverty, wellbeing and mental health, arts and culture, and career advancement and help to find employment. The Hubs will be open to the public and will offer activities, talks and insight into the work of up to 20 charities. Hubs will be hosted by St Martin’s House Conference Centre, Highcross, The Zinthiya Trust and Soft Touch Arts.
The evening of November 18 will see the Giving Day Gala, which will feature the winners of the Leicester Social Responsibility Awards and the Community Impact Programme.
The Awards aim to showcase companies and charities that have demonstrated strong partnerships during the past 12 months, while the Community Impact Programme is a new idea designed to assist voluntary sector organisations with great ideas to benefit their community. Following an application process, four winners will be announced at the Leicester Giving Day Gala Evening, and thereafter, supported by Embark CSR to raise funds from local companies and other sources up to a maximum of £25,000 per project.
Mike Kapur, OBE, His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire has given his backing to the scheme.
“Leicester Giving Day is a fantastic idea to help raise funds for local charities and local communities and to showcase the essential work which they do,” he said.
“I hope businesses in the city of Leicester and in Leicestershire will embrace it and take part, which I am sure they will. Leicester has a great reputation as a philanthropic city and Leicester Giving Day will surely help build our reputation. Good luck to all involved.”
Leicester Giving Day is sponsored by the University of Leicester and AKN Build Ltd, and is supported by Cross Productions, Leicester City Council and Cymer Marketing along with Voluntary Action Leicestershire.
For further information about how to get involved, visit www.leicestergiving.uk
