Carphone Warehouse 2012 Annual Report Download - page 33

Carphone Warehouse Group plc Annual Report 2012 29
Overview Business review Governance Financial statements
Last year we worked with Get Connected
toraise approximately £390,000 through
activities such as aweek‑long national
fundraising event called Get Connected Week.
COMMUNITY AND CHARITY
We strive to be a responsible member of every community in which
we operate. Whether it’s enabling our employees to support local
good causes that are important to them or supporting young people,
we will implement ideas to make apositive impactlocally.
SUPPORTING LOCAL CHARITIES THROUGH THECarphone
WarehouSe Foundation
The Carphone Warehouse Foundation was set up over eight years
ago to support employees with their own fundraising initiatives.
Small grants are awarded to charities nominated by employees.
TheFoundation will match the amount an employee has raised
fortheir chosen charity by up to £200, or up to £500 for a team
fundraising for the same event. Last year the Foundation sponsored
21 employees and donated £4,200.
For national charity campaigns or emergency disaster funds,
wemake lump sum donations of up to £10,000 on behalf of employees.
During the year we donated towards the Japan Earthquake Appeal
and inthe lead up to Christmas each year the Foundation also
donates £1,000 to 12 different charities, all nominated and voted
forbyemployees.
In addition, employees can donate through the payroll giving scheme,
Give As You Earn.
Charity partnerShip
During 2011 we celebrated the tenth anniversary of our partnership
with our charity partner, Get Connected. This registered charity is
afree, confidential helpline for children and young people under
the age of 25. Using technology such as phones, text messages or
webmail, young people who are struggling to cope with the pressures
of life can contact trained volunteers and be put intouch with the
specific support they need.
Last year we worked with Get Connected to raise approximately
£390,000 through activities such as a week‑long national fundraising
event, a quiz night and by offering intrepid employees the chance
toraise funds by trekking or skydiving. Themajority was raised
through our flagship fundraising event, thecharity auction,
whichraised arecord‑breaking £250,000. Wealso generated
approximately £45,000 for GetConnected through our ‘TakeBack’
handset recycling scheme.
During the financial year Get Connected was contacted byaround
70,000 young people, some as young as eight yearsold. Ofthese,
around half benefited from emotional supportand guidance offered
through the helpline. The balance ofcallers were referred to
additional third party support.
In 2011–12, CPW Europe contributed £179,000 to the running costs
of GetConnected and committed £105,000 to improve their office
spaceand upgrade their telecommunication systems to cope with
increasing demand. During the next financial year our in‑house
corporate responsibility function will focus on developing the
charity partnership and will aim to increase the public profile
ofGetConnected.
Get Connected is the national helpline for young
people under the age of 25 and has been our charity
partner for ten years.
GET CONNECTED
Get Connected Week is Carphone Warehouse's national
fundraising weekfor Get Connected. All employees,
whether store or office based, have a chance to create
their own fundraising initiatives. It isafantastic
team‑building opportunity, which allows employees to
have fun atwork while raising money for a worthy cause.
Andrew Harrison, CEO of CPW Europe, volunteers
fortarget practice.
GET CONNECTED WEEK