At Clifton Ingram, we believe that our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme should be a significant and central part of life at the firm.
Consequently, staff at all levels are encouraged to participate in a variety of CSR activities, be it organising fundraising days, volunteering with local office charity partners, or simply taking part in the numerous events which are held throughout the year.
Through these activities we aim to have a positive impact on our community, offering support to local charities and initiatives, and to improve opportunities for those living in the surrounding area.
Community
We are incredibly proud to be part of the local communities in Farnham, Reading and Wokingham. As such we like to support local initiatives and events throughout the year. We also engage with both the local business communities and charitable organisations and encourage staff to take an active role in their locality.
We also partake in an Apprenticeship Scheme with Boom Technology to support local school leavers find their first steps into their careers. We take on 1-2 young people within accounting and administrative roles to help them develop the skills they need with hands-on training.
Fundraising
As well as supporting local initiatives, each of our office's partner with a local charity. We empower our staff to organise fundraising events, donation drives and to take part in our employee volunteer programme with our three charity partners.
Phyllis Tuckwell, Farnham
Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice is one of the oldest hospices in South East England, opening in 1979. Modern hospices were a new concept, spearheaded by former nurse, Dame Cicely Saunders, who led a campaign to create a place where terminally ill patients could find a restful and caring environment away from the hustle and bustle of a hospital.
Phyllis Tuckwell is the only Hospice Care service for adult patients, and their families, living with an advanced or terminal illness (such as heart, lung or neurological disease) across the whole of West Surrey and part of North East Hampshire. Our passion is to support patients and their families, offering comfort and understanding at this difficult time to ensure that they are treated with dignity and compassion, because we believe that every day is precious. We look after patients on our In-Patient Unit at the Hospice in Farnham, and another large part of what we do is within our two other key services of Living Well and Hospice Care at Home. Our Hospice Care at Home team gives patients, their families and carers, access to high quality, compassionate care in the place they most want to be… at home, or in their care home or community hospital. Our Living Well service is designed to help our patients, and those closest to them, to manage the impact of their illness, cope with changes, improve wellbeing and remain as independent as possible.
Berkshire Vision, Reading
Berkshire Vision provide vital practical and friendly support, sport and activities to visually impaired children and adults and their families in Berkshire. They support over 1000 blind and partially sighted children and adults, helping them to live independently and live life to the full. Berkshire Vision offer a whole range of services including sight loss support, equipment and technology, telephone befriending, adapted sports, social activities, 18-35 and dual sensory loss groups, and employability. They also have a programme of support and activities for children, young people and their families.
First Days, Wokingham
First Days give choice, restore dignity, and empower families who are living with a low income or are experiencing financial hardship. First Days offer one-to-one Coaching for parents as well as provide everyday essentials for children who need them, such as school uniforms, new baby essentials, bedding etc.
First Days give choice, restore dignity and empower families who are living with a low income or are experiencing financial hardship.
They believe that all children should:
- Be safe in their home, and out about.
- They should be confident in school.
- They should have lots of fun.
They help facilitate that.
They offer peer support and one to one coaching to parents, whilst providing everyday essentials for children who need them. They distribute school uniforms, new baby essentials, beds and bedding, travel equipment, toiletries, safety items, furniture, toys and books and much more.
Environment
As a firm we are committed to achieving a sustainable and healthy working environment. We are working to minimize our impact on the environment, and we strive therefore to ensure that the environmental consequences of our actions are factored into our decision making.
We have seen a significant reduction in the use of paper (via, amongst other initiatives, paper-lite/paper-free practices) and single-use-plastics. We have therefore considerably cut down the amount of waste generated in the office. When waste is generated, we aim to recycle it wherever possible. Staff are encouraged to consider sharing lifts on their commute to and from work. Our Reading office is currently establishing a roof terrace allotment.
Whilst we are proud of the changes we have made, we keep our environmental impact under constant review, and are always keen to identify areas where we can make further advances.