Our investment can be a mixture of money, the time and skills of our people and/or gifts in kind. We have a wide range of resources that can be given in kind. These include product donations, use of meeting rooms and other facilities, as well as access to training and other specialist materials.
As the needs of communities vary from region to region and country to county, our investment is not prescriptive. Local business units decide how much money, time and skills or gifts in kind they will invest, using the Growing Community value around the world guidelines to measure and manage their community investments.
Money
We make financial contributions such as:
- giving money in response to specific appeals
- investing funds in projects tackling social priorities
- financially supporting charities and community organisations
- sponsoring community-focused events or activities
- donating a percentage from sales of products linked to a cause
- directly employing people and resources to manage community programmes
In 2006 we invested £9.6 million to non-profit making causes. This was over 1% of our pre tax profit.
In the UK, our Foundation makes grants to projects and partner organisations working mainly in the field of Education and Employment.
Time & Skills
We encourage our people to give time and use their skills to help the local community. Their contributions can:
- add deeper value to cash donations
- build long-term relationships with real substance
- bring energy and creativity
- supply specialist skills which community groups really need
- help us find new and better ways for the company to contribute
We encourage and support our employees to get involved in community activities. Their achievements are recognised through initiatives such as the Chairman's Award. Every two years, our Chairman's Award for Employee Community Involvement recognises outstanding examples of community service around the world. The winner receives a trophy and shares a cash donation with the runners up for their respective good causes. Ursula Wojtas from Cadbury ANZ topped the 2006 Chairman's Awards for her dedication to an international Christian organisation that works for the relief of poor, needy and distressed people throughout the world.
Gifts-In-Kind
Our businesses donate a wide range of resources in-kind including:
- our products
- materials and promotional items
- equipment or furniture
We use the internationally recognised London Benchmarking Group model to measure, monitor and report on our community programmes.