Private sector support: Groundwork
Through a federation of over 40 local trusts, Groundwork
brings together local people, local authorities and businesses
to breathe new life into run-down areas.
| 'Doing
your research before you approach any company is crucial.
You need to be professional and not waste their time.' |
'We worked with Barclays on a major new initiative
- Barclays SiteSavers,' explains Phil Barton, the federation's
north-west regional director. 'It aims to restore run-down
environments in residential areas. Barclays supported this
project because it not only targeted funding into areas of
high need, but also provided bank staff with the opportunity
to get involved in helping implement local projects. Staff
were able to develop new skills and to keep in closer touch
with the communities they serve.
'In my experience companies vary widely in their relationships
with voluntary and community organisations. Some have a community
affairs department, others may set aside some of their marketing
budget, others may be able to offer small amounts of support
for local sponsorship arrangements. Companies tend to get
involved in sponsorship when it provides them with an opportunity
to influence their customers or gives them a commercial advantage.
It tends to be much harder to get direct funding from smaller
companies - they are more likely to offer in-kind help or
staff time.
| 'If
you can, get
prospective partners
to come out and meet you so they can see the work you
are doing. The process is really about building a relationship
with a company and this can take a lot of time.' |
'Doing your research before you approach any company
is crucial. You need to be professional and not waste their
time. Preparing a short summary of the project, explaining
what help it is providing and how the company could benefit,
is a good way to establish some common ground. If you have
people on your management committee who are already part of
a company, this is a great way to establish an initial link.
If you can, get prospective partners to come out and meet
you so they can see the work you are doing. The process is
really about building a relationship with a company and this
can take a lot of time - even years.
| 'Many
companies will not have the time to turn up to regular
steering committee meetings, so you have to send them
regular updates and invite them to events.' |
'With commercial companies, reporting back tends to be much
more informal than with trusts. The onus is on you to ensure
they know what is happening. You really have to put some effort
into managing the relationship. It tends to be up to you to
keep them involved. Many companies will not have the time
to turn up to regular steering committee meetings, so you
have to send them regular updates and invite them to events.'
|
