Introduction to Dacorum GENERAL INFORMATION

Location Dacorum is 40km north west of London at the junction of M1 and M25 and near to major London airports High number of residents commute into London (30 minutes) Dacorum is one of ten Boroughs in the county of Hertfordshire and is part of the East of England Region

Statistical Data Population of Dacorum (2001) 137,799 Male67,491Female70,307 14% have a disability 10% of residents provide unpaid care 4.8% are from ethnic minorities (significant change since the 2001 Census) Up to 8 years variation in life expectancy - where you live is a factor

Statistical Data (cont) ,300 enterprises active in Dacorum (80% employ less than 4 staff) The top five industries in Dacorum by number of enterprises are: – Professional, scientific and technical (19%) – Construction (15%) – Information and communication (12%) – Arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (8%) – Business administration and support services (8%) Jan 2012 – 2,354 jobseekers

Introduction to Community Action Dacorum An active NGO providing practical support to other NGO’s and local residents

Background Founded in 1947 Annual Turnover - £1.6 million Funding from source of grants and contracts 37 staff – 24 full time equivalent 16 Directors set the strategic direction 130 volunteers

Services to NGO’s Networking the three sectors of the economy – Connect Dacorum Fleet of ten minibuses for hire Information sharing Advice on funding and governance Payroll Service / Printing Service Range of training courses Representing NGO’s in range of partnerships Community Events – Xmas, Halloween etc

Services to Individuals Learning for work – a range of employment related courses to improve the skills and confidence of adults and young people Learning for leisure Information, Advice and Guidance Furniture Reuse Warehouse Shopmobility Social Car Scheme

Our Approach to Supporting Individuals As a Non-Government Organisation we are not seen as part of “the establishment” Find out what interests each person Important to treat each learner as an individual – to gain their confidence and support them to improve their quality of life Internal projects and working in partnership enable sign posting and progression

Work at a European Level Engaged in transnational activity since 1997 Recent work includes – Progress project – Championing CSR Across Borders – Lifelong Learning Projects on sharing training methodology – Volunteer exchange programmes – Learner workshops on Active Ageing, Active Citizenship and Volunteering

Why we work at a European Level Being active at a local level provides us with a positive story to share In order to improve our local service we need to learn from how other countries tackle the same social issues and needs As part of this ethos we are delighted to be a partner in the Dirigo Project

Connect Dacorum Corporate Social Responsibility Presented by Jeoff Colls

Targeting Local Businesses How do you find and persuade the MD or the HR Manager or Marketing Manager to invite you to discuss their CSR activities.

Targeting Local Businesses 1.Networking meetings 2.Your local council may have a business directory 3.Social networking. LinkedIn, websites, etc 4.Visit local newspaper and TV or radio station 5.Recommendation

Ways You Can Help Giving a Gift Giving a Financial Donation Volunteering Employment of Disadvantaged Persons Environment Technical Help

Giving a Gift Raffle prizes, redundant office equipment and furniture, use of meeting rooms, company product or service, etc.

Grass Roots Group redesign leaflet for Paradise Furniture and Training BAM Construction’s Secret Santa for Woodfield School Strorax Racking Supplies gives racking to Tring Air Cadets Blue Shield Fire Protection Ltd gave a brand new TV, Camera and many other items to the Hospice of St Francis

In the Past year all of these companies have given gifts of a huge variety of items through Connect Dacorum. Adeyfield School, Alpine Press Ltd, Aitchison Raffety, BAM Construction UK Ltd, Blue Shield Fire Protection Ltd, Dacorum Borough Council, DSGI, EIC Insurance, Epson UK Ltd, Esporta, Furnell Transport, Grass Roots Group, HHCC, Hillier Hopkins, Journey Therapy, Keystone Distribution, KM Design Ltd, Kodak, Kris Gruber Photography, Maurice Phillips Partnership, MBS Workplace Environments, Pendley Manor Pickworths Solicitors, Shendish Manor, Storax Racking Supplies, Total UK Ltd, Train Leaders Ltd, Urban Precinct Viva Business Networking Ltd

Giving Financial Donations Sponsorship, events, social evenings, employee and company donations. DCT will even take over your annual company donation workload.

Vinci Park / Bike Doctor Epson / Community Wheels Grass Roots Group / Paradise Furniture & Training Grass Roots, Hillier Hopkins and Pendley Manor sponsor the 2010 Christmas lunch

Volunteering Volunteering – Individual and company based volunteering opportunities. Team Building Challenges

Holiday Inn / Woodfield HSBC/ Iain Rennie Speed Volunteering BAM Construction / Boxmoor Trust

More Examples of Volunteering Adeyfield School have completed five challenges from local charities for their Citizenship programme. Several Dacorum companies give their staff 1 to 5 days off per year to volunteer. Senior employees of local companies have become trustees of local charities.

Become More Environmentally Friendly Recycle your office paper through the Apsley Paper Trail. Be aware of savings to your companies utility bills and the environment.

More Environmental Opportunities RES in Kings Langley promotes the ultimate in environmental efficiency. Several Dacorum companies have achieved ISO14001 status. Dacorum Green Business Club is there to help you become more environmentally friendly.

Offer Technical Support Be proud of your excellence, offer your expertise in Marketing, IT, Law, Finance, etc to a start up company or to a local charity.

Employ a Disabled or Disadvantaged Person Employ a disabled or disadvantaged person either full time, part time or on work experience.

Examples of Employment of Disadvantaged persons Kings Langley School gave Barry the opportunity of a 15 day work trial in their Premises Department. They were so pleased with his work that Barry is now working 30 hrs a week

More Examples of Employment of Disadvantaged persons Ramada Hotel in Redbourn have employed three disabled and disadvantaged persons and all have been a great asset to the hotel The Café at Tesco in Hemel employs 30 year old Tom for 6 hrs / wk.

The Passport To Go project has helped many local people who are finding it difficult to get employment. Most have been helped with CV writing, interview techniques and been given retraining courses. Many have been offered volunteering opportunities and some have gained paid employment. Some of the people with a disability offered work trials include Elliott (partially blind and partially deaf ) Tom ( Mobility problems ) Richard ( Mental disorder ) Jason ( partially blind ) Elliott

Joint Working at local level with Statutory Organisations Community Action Dacorum and Connect Dacorum work closely with:- Hertfordshire County Council, Dacorum Borough Council, Job Centre Plus, Work Solutions, Several local Schools and the local Prison.

Joint Working at local level with Charities Dacorum Mencap, Mind in Dacorum, Sunnyside Rural Trust, Woodfield School, Reach Out Plus. Gaddesden Place RDA and Hemel Rotary Club

Joint Working at local level with Businesses Keystone Distribution UK Ltd are currently replacing fence posts for the centre at Gaddesden Place Riding for the Disabled. IOSH on the 17 th May will provide an evening supper for the clients of Mencap and also refurb the garden area at Woodfield School. Adeyfield School’s year 8 students are completing team challenges for 5 charities for disabled people. Accessible Dacorum is a new venture to improve accessibility for the disabled people of Dacorum.

What’s in it for You Invitation to 3 free networking conferences per year, plus a special Christmas lunch. 4 Newsletters per year. Free promotion of your CSR activities. Possible financial help for employing disadvantaged persons. Improved staff moral, enhanced reputation and positive PR. Regular list of CSR opportunities within the community. An opportunity to offer gifts and services to local charities. Savings on Environmental issues. Your logo and website featured on the Connect Dacorum website.

Finally Think about your social contribution Would you like to do more ? If the answer is yes, then join Connect Dacorum Contact Jeoff Colls on or or him on or join on line at