What can my Company do to help?

We support families from all walks of life through challenging times that could easily beset us all.  We probably all know families who have received Home-Start support, even if the confidentiality of our work means we may not be aware of it.

As a local company your support means that you will help change the lives of families and children in your own community, where your business is based, some of whom may even work for you. If your company is further afield, your customers, those people at the heart of your business, could well be amongst the families we support.

There are many other benefits to your company in supporting a charity, such as our own, including:

• Improving staff morale and employee engagement
• Building a sense of fulfilment, productivity and loyalty to your company
• Creating new team-building opportunities by organising fundraising events
• Driving customer loyalty – 85% of consumers have a more positive image of a product or company when it supports charity

By making us as your Charity of the Year, you would:

• Engage your staff and customers in fun and creative fundraising activities
• Provide your company with positive PR opportunities and brand exposure
• Help you fulfil your corporate social responsibility obligations
• Create a feel-good factor about your business.

We would regularly update your team on the positive impact you are making and would ensure your company’s logo appears on our social media and corporate literature.

There are so many ways you and your employees could raise much-needed funds for Home-Start, often whilst having fun. For instance, you could:

• Participate in fundraising sporting challenges. E.g. fun runs, marathons, cycling or swimming challenges.
• Organise a company-based fundraising event e.g. cake sale, quiz night, raffle
• Provide a team or individuals to help with the delivery of a fundraising event
• Set up Payroll Giving
• Match fund money raised individually by your employees
• Hold a dress down day to tie in with our Love Your Home-Start campaign each February
• Agree a percentage of sales from a specific item to be donated
• Participate in carol-singing and choir events
• Organise a company fundraising challenge. E.g. teams make, package and sell as many cupcakes/chocolates etc in a given time-frame (as in the BBC Programme, ‘The Apprentice’).

One local company, Johnson Matthey, very kindly provided a training venue when we needed to train a new cohort of Home-Visiting volunteers.  This is just one of the many ways this generous company has supported us over the years.

And, by match funding your employees’ fundraising, by donating the same amount to us as they have raised, you will motivate your staff by showing your support for their fundraising efforts as well as raising your company profile.

Your corporate sponsorship or donation can bring tax benefits to your company, as well as raising awareness of your brand and creating a positive team culture.

Here are just some ways how your company could help us to support local families through sponsorship or corporate donation:

• Sponsoring one of our fundraising events, e.g. one of our literary lunches, our next Strictly-for-Charity event, our Home-Start concert, or one of our other regular events.
• Funding our Home-Visiting of a family going through tough times. (@£1500 per 9 months)
• Funding our Royston, Buntingford or South Cambridgeshire specialised Family Support Groups (@ £3000 per term.)
• If you haven’t already, set up Payroll Giving for you employees

Should you sponsor us or become a corporate donor, we would be happy to include your company’s logo on our social media and corporate literature.

Do you have a service that you would be prepared to offer us for free?

Donating your expertise, services or goods will help reduce our costs, allowing us to direct more funds towards the increasing number of families that require our support.

Donations in kind could include:

• Expertise: Legal, financial, business management, marketing, website development, copywriting, photography, PR & communications and other expertise.
• Services: Meeting space, printing, catering and other services.
• Goods: Computers, software, furniture, stationery, office equipment and other goods.
• Raffle Prizes: Products, tickets to a significant event, an ‘experience’ voucher, theatre/cinema tickets, a round of golf and more.

Payroll Giving is a tax-efficient scheme that allows your staff to make regular donations directly from their salary on a tax-free basis. Payroll Giving provides opportunities to engage people who may be more likely to give smaller amounts, ensuring everyone, regardless of salary band, can contribute towards doing something good.

You can find out more information on Payroll Giving here.