It was announced today that 56 companies in Ireland have formed almost 7000 community partnerships and donated over €32 million in cash donations, in-kind donations and employee fundraising to local charities and community groups.
National statistics show that over €11,782,983 was given in cash donations, €14,945,518 was contributed through in-kind donations and almost €5,393,535 was raised through employee fundraising.
Employees also volunteered over 227,144 hours to local groups and projects during the year, equivalent to 145 people working full-time in the charity and voluntary sector.
The figures for 2016 represent an increase on 2015 with employee volunteering rising 5% and a 15% increase in combined cash donations, in-kind and employee fundraising provided by companies to local groups.
This information is captured by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), on the online interactive “Business Impact Map” which gives a county-by-county breakdown of how companies and their employees supported their local community groups and charities during 2016.
The release of the figures coincided with BITCI’s Social Impact-Why Business Matters symposium hosted by BT, where business leaders and NGOs discussed the benefits to local communities as well as the business benefits of community engagement in increasing staff engagement with their workplace and in helping to attract and retain talent.
Overall, the areas of health, community and poverty were the best supported. Over €10m was donated to health with a further €6m being donated to communities and another €2.9 going towards aiding poverty.
Elsewhere, education, children and youth and homelessness received sizeable contributions. More than €3.5 was donated to education, another €2.2m was donated to children and youth and €1.8m to homelessness.
Commenting on the figures, Business in the Community Ireland Chief Executive, Tina Roche said, "The biggest trend we are seeing is the rise of employees using their skills to help communities. For example construction companies are helping local community groups with refurbishment projects or IT companies are offering coding workshops and mentoring."
She added, "The huge gain for the community groups is that they are getting access to knowledge and technical skills that otherwise might not be available or affordable to them."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
