Employee led
Friends Provident believes that it can achieve a better return on its investment in the community by aligning its giving with the interests of its people. We achieve this though our employee-led corporate community engagement programme, FRIENDS in the community. FRIENDS in the community is based on the principle that we shall encourage and assist employees, however they choose to support the community.
The programme is made up of the following three schemes:
FRIENDS give:
Encourages payroll giving and through Give as you Earn Friends Provident matches employee donations up to £20 per month.
393 employees participated in our Give as you Earn scheme, donating more than £210,000 to charitable causes this year. Friends Provident matching donated a further £66,000 to charitable organisations.
FRIENDS raise:
Supports individual fundraising as well as corporate fundraising days matching both activities pound for pound.
Friends Provident awarded more than 65 matched fundraising grants this year to employees fundraising and together with our corporate fundraising days, donated more than £39,000 to charitable organisations in partnership with employees.
FRIENDS volunteer
- Supports community based team challenge days
- Expands our well established schools programme
- Recognises employees who work for charitable organisations through 'recognition grants'.
Team Challenges
174 employees took part in a wide range of one-day team-building events that give employees the opportunity to carry out a practical task that makes a visible difference to, and benefits, the local community. These challenges were undertaken in nature reserves, schools and community organisations across the UK and abroad.
The challenges improved leadership skills among employees and helped team development. One team organiser stated: “Team members developed their confidence and their team work. They felt their problem solving and communication was better as a result of taking part.”
Schools Programme
School Governors: 13 Friends Provident colleagues are placed as school governors across the country, and were given a £500 grant on behalf of their chosen school. Today’s schools face many challenges and require School Governors to have a direct involvement in major decision areas such as budgets, senior staff recruitment, and the future direction of the school. Apart from this, School Governors are also entitled to take five days out of work in order to fulfil their duties. Phil Roberts, Friends Provident volunteer says: “I'm a parent governor at my children's primary school. It's fantastic being able to play such an active role in their education, and the support that FRIENDS gave me this year (particularly in terms of additional days Governor's leave) enabled me to get really involved in the recruitment of a new Deputy Headteacher, two classroom teachers and a Higher Level Teaching Assistant. The Headteacher really appreciated my support. 'Management' at the school (Governors and the Head's Senior Management Team) received an improved OFSTED result this time around too, so everybody's happy!”
School Readers: Working in partnership with schools, over 40 volunteers based at the main Friends Provident offices were trained to listen to children read in these schools. Employees donate 45 minutes of their time, which Friends Provident matches in work time, per week to help children learn to read and explore the world of books.
Recognition Grants
Friends Provident awarded a £500 grant to 39 employees in 2008 for their valuable contribution to the community. Employees qualify for the grant after volunteering for more than four hours per month for a continuous period of at least six months with a community organisation.
