How Can Small Businesses Play Their Part During The Current Crisis?
How Can Small Businesses Play Their Part During The Current Crisis?
Naomi Ridgway, Intern at Kai Communications
The last three years have had catastrophic repercussions for individuals, businesses and communities all across the world – particularly for those who were vulnerable pre-2020. How then, on top of the debris left from Covid, is the impending living crisis impacting those in the UK living below, on or just above the poverty line, struggling to make ends meet and increasingly reliant upon foodbanks? What is the current situation and how can businesses play their part?
Firstly, it is helpful to provide some context. According to the Trussel Trust, there has been a 52% increase in the dependency on foodbanks from between April 2019 and September 2019, to the same period of this year. Furthermore, the last six months have seen approximately 1.3million emergency food parcels given across the UK, with just under half being distributed to children. Despite the inspiring lifeline work that charities like the Trussel Trust are providing, I hope you’d agree that this is not the kind of dependency that we should be comfortable with.
So, what can small businesses be doing to help manage this ever-evolving crisis? Here are three simple actions that any business, no matter the scale, can easily partake in.
1. Assess Your Company Values. Before taking action, take a look to check whether you belong to a workforce that shares and aligns with your personal values and acknowledges its social responsibility. If values don’t align, consider what is being compromised.Is it an area that you could open into dialogue with senior leaders? If so, it is important to have a clear set of questions and expectations that you’re prepared to outline.
2. Partner With A Foodbank. As many of us may be familiar, most large supermarket chains have set-up both in-store and online checkout donations, often partnered with dedicated distribution services. This is a brilliant and effective initiative that businesses can take note of. Partnering with a foodbank could look like organising monthly food donations from your office, holding fundraising events or alternatively, it could manifest itself as corporate volunteering days and the donation of your time. This is not only a brilliant way to offer foodbanks budget-relieving support, it also demonstrates company values in an active way.
3. Payroll Giving Scheme.The Payroll Giving scheme is an effective way that registered UK charities are able to receive tax free donations. It also fulfils the social responsibility of businesses to remain aware of the climate they’re operating in. According to the Gov.uk website, after an employee signs onto the scheme, the employer is able to deduct an agreed amount from the employee’s wage before tax under PAYE, with that money then going to the agency charity. This is a productive scheme which enables you to provide your employees with the option of aligning with your core company values. If this is not a Scheme that your business is currently involved with, it is an easy way of playing your part.
Director of Kai Communications, Hazel Scott, feels passionate about playing her part in helping to support others during this time of crisis. Since helping to support the local secondary school with food packages, she has seen the ever-growing need, saying “Initially we were helping a few families, but the numbers have grown exponentially. We are delighted to be able to help in the small ways we can”.
Offering time and support is an opportunity to actively help combat the desperate need of so many families across the UK, all whilst engaging your employees in the wider community that your business sits within. It is an opportunity for your business to demonstrate how the company culture is being actively fulfilled, instead of relying on a passive declaration of support. This is not to say that all companies advertise their charitable efforts with the intent of being rewarded, however it does provide a reflection of the business’ integrity – something that is becoming more valuable to prospective clients and employees alike.
