“The combined efforts of Croydon Commitment, working together with South London YMCA have had a profoundly positive effect in the local community”

Tom Letts OBE,
Chief Executive of South London YMCA

 

 

Corporate Carats
Corporate Carats is a monthly bulletin of local opportunities for companies’ staff to have greater community involvement in Croydon. The bulletin acts as a noticeboard for the local charities to directly access the local business community by posting their requirements or “carats” through Croydon Commitment and provides an invaluable source of opportunities for staff to develop their professional and personal skills.

To download the latest Corporate Carats bulletin in PDF format please click HERE.

The Dragons' Den is based upon the popular BBC TV programme which aims to help budding entrepreneurs set up their own businesses. The difference with Croydon Commitment’s Dragons' Den is that the entrepreneurs aided in this case are social enterprises and voluntary groups.
Four projects (CAYSH, Croydon Hearing Resource Centre, HR Options and Mind in Croydon) are currently being helped by 4 Dragons (Cathie Johnstone of Catherine Johnstone Recruitment; Jon Hill of DMC Business Machines; Phil Walker of Royal Bank of Scotland and Richard Hunter of Barclays Corporate) with the aid of business expertise and contacts and the ultimate aim is that they are up and running within the year.
 
Employability Project
The Employability Project was started by the Leaving Care team in Croydon Council in July 2004 and Croydon Commitment has successfully placed over 30 young people in work placements with over 10 of them achieving full-time employment thereafter.
 
This is a scheme aimed at charities and social enterprises who have specific requirements of help in the areas of finance, marketing, communications and operations management which can be provided by the business community within an agreed time frame.
We are looking for staff volunteers (during work time) to solve issues in these areas on behalf of the charities. Examples might include re-writing a charity's HR policy, sorting out a charity's finances, writing a business plan or marketing strategy. These projects involve an initial meeting with the charity in question to establish what the issue is and how the volunteer will be able to help.
The opportunities for staff professional development are endless and the rest of the work will be carried out from the volunteer's desk, although contact with the charity will be maintained via email and telephone. Projects will be completed within a 3 month period and should involve approximately 15 hours of work time, over the time period.
To download a PDF of charities opportunities please click HERE.
 

Team Events
Team events are organised through Croydon Commitment with the aim of completing a bigger task which involves a group of staff, working at a charity or school for a day or more, if required.
Croydon Commitment sources the projects, identifies the tasks and organises the day on behalf of the company so that the brief can be completed in the time allotted. Environmental projects are often a popular choice involving ground clearance, natural hedge building or making wood seating from logs, but other opportunities include painting a local hall or packing Christmas hampers.
Information sheets are provided specific to the project in question, tools and materials are provided where possible and lunchtime venues and transport links are identified.
To download a PDF list of current Team Events please click HERE.