Member Article

David Blunkett MP calls for businesses to support local communities

David Blunkett MP is calling for more businesses to engage in volunteering in their communities, as he took part in a roundtable debate with business leaders from across the Yorkshire region.

The event, which was hosted by the charity Business in the Community, welcomed delegates from both the South & West Yorkshire Community Impact leaders’ networks. The main focus was on community cohesion and the role volunteering can play, and on education and the skills that businesses need young people to develop.

Business in the Community currently encourages businesses to take part in employee volunteering through programmes which develop basic skills, inspire enterprise and employability, promote work inclusion and support schools.

Leeds based TD Direct Investing recently picked up the Employee Volunteering Business Award at BITC’s Responsible Business Awards for its Making a Difference together programme which involved staff mentoring pupils in local schools. Their work improved the reading age of pupils and provided them with an insight into the working world.

Speaking to the city’s business leaders, who came from a wide range of organisations including Sheffield Business School, Kelda Group, Marshalls and Barclays, David Blunkett said: “A fractured community is not functioning, a fractured community leads people into circumstances where the message they receive is all about survival and not aspiration and inspiration. Business, education and community need to work together to help that inspiration and aspiration.”

Pete Thomas, Commercial Director, NHS West and South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Commissioning Support Unit said: “It was very interesting to reflect upon the reciprocal benefits for businesses in supporting our local communities making a direct tangible difference for local people whilst engaging, motivating and developing our staff.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Business In the Community .