Project Shoreditch wins award for ‘Power in Partnership’
Project Shoreditch, a unique community investment project involving Linklaters in conjunction with Deutsche Bank, UBS, the Shoreditch Trust and East London Business Alliance (ELBA), has been recognised with a ‘Power in Partnership’ award at the prestigious Business in the Community National Awards for Excellence 2009.
The Business in the Community Awards for Excellence are the UK’s most influential, independent, peer assessed corporate responsibility awards. Run in association with the Financial Times, the awards recognise and celebrate those companies which have shown innovation, creativity and sustained commitment to corporate responsibility. The award was announced by HRH the Prince of Wales, at a reception at Clarence House, in London, on 6 July.
The aim of Project Shoreditch, which was set up in April 2005, has been to involve business to enable regeneration in Shoreditch, in London, and help bridge the gap between Shoreditch and the City. Over the past four years, volunteers from Linklaters, Deutsche Bank and UBS have supported a variety of Shoreditch-based organisations through team challenges, pro-bono legal advice, business planning, mentoring, training, web design, employability events and workplace visits as well as role model workshops. More than 5,000 volunteers have been placed through the project bringing with them over £700,000 of in-kind support.
Project Shoreditch was among seven strong entries from partnerships including Lloyds of London. The judges commented: “the strategic partnership of Project Shoreditch to promote regeneration through community engagement and employee volunteering has amassed significant impacts. Project Shoreditch brings the community to the City, not just the City to the community and engages a variety of partners in addition to business, such as the PCT, and educational establishments. It is a highly replicable approach that is now being employed in other areas.”
Oonagh Harpur, Linklaters Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, said:
“Linklaters is delighted to be involved in this unique partnership, which independent evaluators have found to have made a significant impact on organisations in Shoreditch, helping them to improve their prospects and stability and to tackle community development in new and innovative ways. Over the past four years, almost 1,400 Linklaters volunteers have been involved with the project, working alongside corporate colleagues to support nearly 50 local organisations with pro bono advice or through other volunteering."
Micheal Pyner, Chief Executive of the Shoreditch Trust, commented:
“I think what distinguishes this has been the private/third sector mix which has demanded a different discipline from all of us. The impact has gone far beyond the original brief with organisations benefiting from the development of relationships of trust that have developed beyond CSR. The impact on us, the local community and the broader area has been significant."
For further information, please contact:
Rupert Winlaw on (44-20) 7456 3219 or rupert.winlaw@linklaters.com
