Carphone Warehouse 2002 Annual Report Download - page 14

12 The Carphone Warehouse Group PLC Annual Report 2002
Corporate responsibility
Commitment to responsible growth
The Group's achievements during the last year are clear evidence of its
commitment to responsible growth. By putting customers first and through
its relationship with its employees, the Group has developed innovative and
effective ways of making positive contributions to society and the
environment. We have recently appointed a Group Corporate Responsibility
Manager, a new role that reflects our commitment to this area.
Charitable activities
Non-Executive Director, Des Wilson, has a 30-year record of achievement
in the voluntary sector and heads up the Board’s Charitable Activities
sub-committee. This year we have refocused our charitable activities to
concentrate on two main charities, Get Connected and Macmillan Cancer
Relief.
Get Connected
Get Connected is a charity that was set up by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust in
1999 and is aimed at supporting anyone under the age of 25 in crisis
situations by finding them the best help possible. There are thousands
of helplines and charities for young people throughout the UK, but often
it is very difficult to know where to start. The Get Connected helpline
provides young people with the best help it can find for free, seven days
a week.
In September 2001, The Carphone Warehouse announced a unique
partnership with Get Connected, providing purpose-built headquarters for
Get Connected within its offices in Acton, London and assumed all office
costs for the charity. In addition, The Carphone Warehouse’s own
employees across the UK are actively encouraged to train as Get Connected
volunteers, and today Group employees make up 10% of the Get Connected
volunteers team. The helpline currently helps over one thousand callers per
month. Additionally employees in the UK are actively encouraged to
publicise the Get Connected helpline in their local area, which has been
particularly successful in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Macmillan Cancer Relief
The "Challenge Yourself" programme in support of Macmillan Cancer
Relief has continued this year. The campaign launched by David
Beckham in May 2000 is aimed primarily at our 7,500 employees and
asks them to embark on a personal challenge to raise money. With
involvement at all levels and representation from senior management
through to store and call centre consultants, a number of impressive
challenges have already taken place, including two employees
completing the 3,300 mile row across the Atlantic and 40 employees
trekking 112km across the Sahara desert. The campaign has raised
£250,000 to date.
The Prince’s Trust
We have continued our close relationship with The Prince’s Trust, the
UK’s leading charity for young people. Charles Dunstone is currently
Chairman of the Trading Board of the Trust and over the last six years has
been heavily involved in supporting the charity. Many of our employees
give their time to community and training programmes within the Trust’s
activities.
New York tragedy handset donation
In response to the tragedy in New York on 11 September 2001, the
Group donated 100 mobile phones and free airtime to volunteer liaison
officers at Scotland Yard in London. The officers used the mobile phones
as vital communication tools, on behalf of American families living in the
UK and UK based families with close relatives missing in New York, to
help locate and link up those who were missing.
Auteuil International
This French association runs various projects to help children worldwide
Pulling together for
responsible growth
Two Carphone Warehouse
employees row across the Atlantic
raising £50,000 for Macmillan
Cancer Relief
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