Deloitte team aiming to set a new charity record

Mar 5 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

A TEAM effort by Deloitte Newcastle has seen it make its biggest charitable contribution to the region so far.

In 2007/08 the 180-strong business advisory firm raised £27,449, which benefited charitable causes such as Guide Dogs for the Blind, St Oswald’s Hospice and the British Leukaemia Foundation

Deloitte says its corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda for this year will be bigger and better, with a whole host of fundraising ideas and activities being planned around the region and across the UK, in order for the Deloitte team to once again smash their annual fundraising target.

Deloitte has revealed that following a unanimous office vote, its nominated charities for the next two years will be the Great North Air Ambulance Service and North England Children’s Cancer Research.

This year will see Deloitte employees undertake a variety of physically and mentally challenging fundraising activities, including Deloitte’s annual community day, where employees spend a day in the community undertaking tasks like conservation work and housekeeping duties at organisations across the region such as hospices and National Trust properties.  

Other events on the CSR calendar include a race night and a sponsored Dragon Boat race, as well as the Great North Run, which last year employee Michael Morris completed in 1hr 10min.

Later this year, a select team will also take part in the London Triathlon and the Half Iron Man, which will challenge competitors to a 1.2-mile swim, followed by a 56-mile cycle and finishing with a half marathon.

Employees also have the option to make voluntary charity contributions through the company payroll, and some of the team even dedicate their spare time to volunteering through the Prince’s Trust and mentoring local students in further education

Kirsty Turnbull, a member of the Deloitte Newcastle’s Community Investment Committee said: “Deloitte takes its CSR extremely seriously and as a result recognises that it’s important for its professional team to put something back into the community in which it operates.

“By raising people’s awareness within the firm of different opportunities to spend their spare time, such as volunteering, it motivates employees to work smarter and build effective relationships with their colleagues, not to mention bringing new practical skills into the workplace.”