Links
Foundation
When Working Links was established, our
shareholders committed to reinvest a proportion of any profits
earned. The Community Reinvestment Fund was created to put money
back into the communities where we operate.
In 2004 the decision was taken by the Working
Links Shareholder Board to establish the Links Foundation to
distribute the Community Reinvestment Fund. The charitable
foundation was established for the benefit of the public, primarily
in communities in which Working Links operates.
Since its creation the Foundation has donated
over £3 million to worthwhile initiatives all over the country.
Case studies:
Aid for children in deprived
areas
A group that helps vulnerable children in
Camden and Islington was thrown a lifeline with a £23,000 donation
from the Links Foundation.
We awarded Friends United Network (FUN) with the funds to meet the
salary and training costs of a part-time caseworker. Each trained
and screened adult FUN Friend is able to provide support to
vulnerable and disadvantaged children living in the most deprived
inner city boroughs.
Entrepreneurs given a
boost
A scheme which helps people with
disabilities to become self-employed has received a cash injection
from the Foundation.
We donated money to the Northern Pinetree Trust to help them extend
their work with people who are disadvantaged and disabled. It has
also benefited young people with special needs.
Responsible employer
We are committed to being a responsible
employer and there are a number of different ways that we aim to
ensure this.
Our Policies, such as the [Car Policy], the
[Sustainability Policy] and the [Health and Safety Policy], among
others, set out our responsibilities to our people.
The Safelink Team ensure we deliver a
safe working environment for our people, customers and
stakeholders.
Dignity at Work
In October 2008 we set up a Dignity at Work
steering group. The purpose of the group is to drive diversity
and raise awareness internally and externally. They act as leaders
within our business, bringing with them individual experiences
from other companies and other areas.
The group is responsible for reviewing our
relevant policies and procedures, raising important discussion
points, sharing learning with the group and taking learning back to
their offices / locations.
They aim to value individuality and ensure
inclusiveness, to help build positive relations among all people,
to strengthen equality and promote the eradication of all forms of
prejudice and stereotypes. This means recognising diversity in its
broadest sense including race, gender, sexual orientation,
disability, transgender, age, class, religion or culture,
difference of ability, education or economic positions and being
all inclusive.