Words by Abi Scaife
The Corporate Cause section in the Smiley Charity Film Awards is a chance for businesses to demonstrate how they’re giving back. It’s a hugely important and impactful category, allowing us to celebrate their partnerships with charities and causes that benefit our world.
Ahead of the Smiley Charity Film Awards ceremony, we caught up with Julia Dwyer, the Director of the Cadent Foundation, one of our Corporate Cause finalists.
The Cadent Foundation is the charitable arm of Cadent Gas Limited., which uses a portion of the profits of Cadent Gas Limited to do good in the world. Their entry discusses their partnership with Emmaus, a charity working to end homelessness.
Through our social purpose, we want to make a real, sustainable difference to our communities in a fair and inclusive manner. Cadent’s purpose is to keep people warm while protecting the planet by making things ‘easier, fairer and greener’ for those living and working in our networks.
But not everyone in our network has a safe, warm place to call home, and that is why we chose to partner with Emmaus. Our ‘Cadent Foundation’ gives grants to support people impacted by fuel poverty, which includes projects that help make homes more energy efficient. The money raised at our annual charity golf day was used to improve the energy efficiency of several Emmaus communities, helping to keep companions safe and warm. The improvements made will help communities to save money on heating costs and provide sustainable solutions for years to come.
Ultimately, community impact is at the heart of what it means to get involved with charity work and to give back. Charitable works, donations and community involvement, directly benefit both a local and global community. This can lead to improved social conditions, enhanced education, healthcare, and overall well-being, creating a positive ripple effect for the people within these communities and beyond.
Engaging in charitable activities is one way of demonstrating a commitment to CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), showing awareness of its impact on society and the environment. In addition, employees who are part of a socially responsible company tend to feel more motivated and engaged. Participating in charitable initiatives and being aware of the communities’ needs and the potential impact of our involvement, can really help foster a sense of pride and purpose among employees. This in turn contributes both to a positive workplace culture, while also helping to contribute to the overall wellbeing of the communities that we are all part of.
At Cadent, engaging in charitable fundraising and volunteering helps boost morale and colleague satisfaction, providing us with a sense of purpose and pride beyond the day job. We are passionate about helping our local communities to thrive. To date, Cadent has raised over £270,000 for Emmaus and given 124 volunteer days (917 hours) of volunteering time, which is something all our colleagues can be proud of.
How can businesses best support the causes they are involved with?
Businesses can form relationships with charities which go far beyond simply donating money, whether that’s volunteering, providing professional expertise or helping to raise the profile of the charity. Having a long-term partnership, offering both the business and the charity opportunities to maximise and share the impact of their activities, can be hugely beneficial for everyone.
You can learn more about the Cadent Foundation on their website.
You can learn more about Emmaus on their website.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
St Mungo’s. St Mungo's is a leading UK homelessness charity supporting over 3150 people every night. Help us end homelessness and rebuild lives. Support them here.
Centrepoint. This charity supports homeless young adults aged 16-25, and aims to end youth homelessness in the UK. Find out more here.
Emmaus. Emmaus is a UK based charity and community working together to end homelessness. Learn more here.
This article aligns with the UN SDGs No Poverty and Affordable and Clean Energy.
