Bad ideas for good causes

Does your business have a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy?

CSR has become an important consideration for businesses looking to build sustainable, successful organisations.  But while conversations about CSR often focus on environmental commitments, ethical practices, and charitable donations, there's another important element to consider: the positive impact businesses can have on their people and the communities around them.

CSR isn’t just about doing good.  It’s a small part of a bigger business strategy which is good for clients, employees, and your wider community.

It provides organisations with an opportunity to make a genuine difference while strengthening their own workplace culture.  It could start with supporting local charities to encouraging employees to volunteer their time, but the benefits extend much further than simply raising money (although that in itself is noble enough).

What is Corporate Social Responsibility?

CSR is about recognising that we, as employers or business owners, have a responsibility to operate ethically and contribute positively to society.

There are so many ways to do this, such as reducing the environmental impact of your business; supporting charities; or investing in your local community.  Similarly, there are ways that are linked to HR, such as promoting equality and inclusion; or creating a positive working environment.

Is it for everyone?

For some organisations, CSR is embedded within their long-term business strategy.  However, it isn’t just a domain for the big corporations. It could begin with something much simpler, such as taking part in a charity challenge, organising a fundraising event or giving employees the opportunity to volunteer.

Whatever form it takes, the underlying principle remains the same: businesses have the opportunity to make a positive difference beyond their day-to-day commercial activities.

Leading from the front

Some people run marathons. Others climb mountains. I, however, decided to throw myself off a tower.  I signed up to abseil 418ft down the side of the Northampton Lift Tower in aid of charity.

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For those unfamiliar with my relationship with heights, it can best be described as strictly ground-based.  I'm a firm believer that if humans were meant to spend time hundreds of feet in the air attached to a rope, we’d have evolved with considerably more rope.  Nevertheless, I was recently signed up to step over the edge and descend in a controlled if not totally dignified manner.

The reason for this lapse in judgement is The Luca Foundation - the charity for which I’m a trustee, founded by Sharon Luca. The charity helps provide bereaved parents with the precious gift of time with their child through the provision of cuddle cots in maternity units, NICU wards, and paediatric wards across the UK.

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The Luca Foundation's mission is simple but incredibly important. They help to ensure that bereaved parents are given extra time with their child to say goodbye over days rather than hours. This precious ‘gift of time’ is only possible through the availability of specialist cold cuddle cots.

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The Luca Foundation actively works to ensure that fully functioning cuddle cots are available in maternity units, neonatal intensive care units and paediatric wards across the UK.

Unlike many organisations, The Luca Foundation does not use donations to pay salaries. Every pound raised goes directly towards supporting families and providing this vital equipment.

Whilst cuddle cots are not classified by the Government as essential medical equipment, we believe they are absolutely essential for families facing the unimaginable. That's why we're committed to making sure they are available wherever they are needed.

The day had other plans

I had been mentally preparing for the abseil for a while.  When the day came, the weather was perfect and I was ready… only to be told that morning that the lift is broken and therefore all abseils are cancelled for the day.

I thought I’d be relieved, but actually I was annoyed.  

Annoyed that my preparations were in vain, but more upset about the fact that I felt I was letting people down, as many contributors had already donated.  At the time of writing, I am over 80% towards hitting my target.

However, I will still be doing the abseil, at a date to be decided in the new year.  So, in essence, my preparations weren’t in vain (I’ll just pick them up next time) and I have a little longer to hit my target.

The money will still be going to the charity.  Every pound raised goes directly towards supporting families and providing vital equipment so, if you'd like to support a fantastic cause, whilst also helping justify my poor decision-making, I'd be incredibly grateful for a donation.

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And if nothing else, there is a reasonable chance your donation will help me to hit my target, which will ultimately improve my mood while I'm standing 418ft above Northampton questioning every life choice that brought me to that moment at some point in the near future.

Every donation, no matter how small, will help support the incredible work the charity does. Please help me turn a moment of sheer terror into something genuinely positive.

That’s not all folks

I also sponsored a pop quiz.

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The Rugby Pop Quiz is an annual charity event supporting The Myton Hospices to raise much-needed funds for the fabulous work they do.

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Myton Hospice focuses on enhancing life when cure is no longer an option; supporting people living with a terminal illness, and their families, from the point of diagnosis to end of life, to ensure quality time together.

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Holly Kerrigan, who heads up their marketing department, has become a good friend of my wife and I through our morning dog walks.  She and I had a chat about my involvement and, as a supporter of charities and a massive fan of music, it was an easy decision to get involved.

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The quiz took place at Benn Hall in Rugby this month, compiled and presented once again by Dave Twynholm who was brilliant. Rachael Ryan, the community fundraising manager for The Myton Hospices, was on-hand to support.

It was the 20^th annual quiz, and it was the biggest yet with over 200 people across 50 teams on the night.

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Of course, as AJB HR Consultancy Services was the main sponsor, I entered a team which consisted of me, my wife, and three friends. Not only did I get to support the charity, but I got to answer questions about my favourite subject - music!  The quiz featured 13 rounds and a few opportunities for bonus points.

Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but we were in the top 20.  In the end, we weren’t too far off the top spot, but a couple of teams didn’t put a foot wrong.

We’ll be back next year to try and see if we can beat this year’s score.

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It’s a team game

No, I don’t mean the quiz (although that is too).  I meant your CSR policy.  It’s not just a nice-to-have – it’s good for the whole organisation.

A positive workplace culture doesn't develop through policies and procedures alone. It's shaped by shared experiences, common values and the way people work together. CSR activities can provide employees with an opportunity to collaborate outside their usual roles and responsibilities.

Whether they're organising a fundraising event, volunteering in the local community or taking part in a physical challenge, these experiences can bring people together in a different way.  They can help strengthen relationships, encourage teamwork and create a shared sense of purpose.

From an HR perspective, this is particularly valuable. Employees who feel connected to their colleagues and their organisation's values may be more engaged and motivated at work.

Work is an important part of people's lives, but employees also want to feel that their time and effort contribute to something meaningful.  Giving people opportunities to support causes they care about can help create a greater sense of connection and purpose.

Of course, CSR isn't a substitute for good management, fair pay, appropriate workloads or meaningful wellbeing support. However, when combined with a genuinely supportive workplace, it can form part of a broader approach to employee wellbeing and engagement.

A good place to work

People increasingly want to understand what an organisation stands for, not simply what it sells or the services it provides.

A business that demonstrates a genuine commitment to social responsibility can strengthen its reputation as an employer and help attract people whose values align with its own. CSR can also contribute to employee loyalty by demonstrating that the organisation is genuinely interested in more than its financial performance.

Charities and community organisations often rely on a combination of donations, volunteers and practical support to deliver their work. Businesses can make a valuable contribution by fundraising, donating resources, sharing professional expertise or encouraging employees to give their time.

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These activities can also help organisations develop stronger relationships with the communities in which they operate.

For smaller businesses in particular, supporting a local cause can be a practical way to contribute to something meaningful while building relationships with other organisations and individuals.  The impact doesn't always have to be measured in thousands of pounds. Sometimes, a team giving its time, skills and energy can be just as valuable.

Do your values align?

Values only really mean something when they're reflected in everyday behaviour.  

CSR offers an opportunity to put those principles into practice. An organisation that talks about teamwork can demonstrate it through a collective fundraising challenge. A business that values community can show its commitment by supporting local causes.

For leaders and HR professionals, these activities can help bring organisational values to life, giving employees something tangible to connect with.

They can also demonstrate that social responsibility is something everyone can contribute to, rather than something that sits exclusively with senior management or the marketing department.

CSR is for everyone

One of the most important things to remember is that Corporate Social Responsibility doesn't have to involve a large budget, a dedicated department or a complicated strategy.

It can begin with a conversation about the causes employees care about, a day spent volunteering or a team coming together to raise money for a charity.  The most effective initiatives are those that feel authentic, involve employees and reflect the organisation's values.

For HR professionals and business leaders, the aim should be to create positive experiences that bring people together, not introduce another expectation into already busy working lives.

My own participation in charity events has been a reminder of the value of coming together to support a worthwhile cause.  While raising money and awareness are important objectives, these events also demonstrate what can be achieved when people share a common goal and work towards something bigger than themselves.

CSR can support stronger workplace relationships, contribute to employee engagement, enhance an organisation's reputation and deliver meaningful benefits to the communities it serves.  Being a successful business isn't just about what you achieve. It's also about the positive impact you leave behind.

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