My organisation encourages charitable activities
In 2016 White Stuff launched Community Chest, an employee small grants programme, which allows staff to apply for funding for causes that they care about in their local community. The scheme was set up with the aim of extending the reach and impact of the White Stuff Foundation beyond supporting their existing partner charities and empowering the team to have a say in the direction of funds whilst having a positive impact on what is important for them. This pilot year saw applications from around 90 employees and funded 17 small grassroots organisations such as Residents Associations, charities and community organisations. The Foundation awarded a total of £20,000 and the winning projects ranged from a Christmas party for elderly people to restoring a community hall kitchen and running healthy eating workshops for children from an allotment. 2016 has been a milestone year for the White Stuff Foundation, hitting a total fundraising income of over £2 million since the charity launched in 2010. Employees across the business continue to drive the majority of fundraising activities. Recently a group of shop managers were keen to show support for a colleague currently suffering from cancer so took on a Race for Life as a group, raising around £1,000. In early 2016, White Stuff established a new charity partnership for the Head Office with south London based Spires, who support rough sleepers, sex workers and disadvantaged adults. This year the People Team ran a CV and Interview Skills Workshops for 40 students from the educational charity Into University. Participants received expert advice on how to structure a CV and how to achieve success in an interview from the White Stuff team and a number of trusted recruitment agencies. In addition, White Stuff runs a work experience programme that allows participants to gain an insight into the world of work.