Working with a local community project is not just ‘charity’. Community projects benefit businesses and businesses benefit community projects.
No business operates in isolation, they’re all part of a local community. Community projects like community gardens, energy gardens, and community cleanups all care for the environment in the local area. They create shared values for local businesses and local people. When local communities thrive, so do local businesses. It’s circular.
Community projects build people up. Volunteering makes people feel part of the group. They create stronger, more resilient communities. They make people feel like they belong. A business that contributes to the local area shows that it is invested in more than making a profit. Employees who take part in local activities bond too. It is a kind of team building.
Here’s a great example of how community projects benefit business. Recently the EQ Investors team spent the day volunteering at Roots & Shoots, planting trees. In addition to the benefits of planting trees (reduced temperatures, carbon capture, shade on hot days), the team came away feeling proud of their contribution to the project. The EQ Investors have been back to Roots & Shoots more than once and have volunteered at other London charities like City Harvest. Their staff have also signed up for sleep outs and clean up days.
Roots & Shoots are well known in Lambeth. They run a series of projects including the City Saplings Programme that connects inner-city children with nature, the Wild and Bubble Gate gardens, and horticultural vocational training projects like the Pollinator Project and Garden Outreach and the Grounding Project which helps refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD to heal through gardening.
Building rapport with community organisations builds brand reputation and trust with local people. It can lead to better customer loyalty among values-led customers. It increases visibility in the local area and can lead to positive word-of-mouth referrals. But it is not just a PR exercise. It can also improve employee morale, pride in their work and retention of staff.
Businesses can build alignment with projects that match their values. Community gardens are valuable for providing fresh food. The green spaces improve wellbeing and local pride for the people who work in them. They encourage education in young people on where our food comes from and how to increase our food security. Energy gardens combine environmental action with community benefit. They support the clean energy transition, biodiversity and climate goals. They show a practical commitment to sustainability and a visible local example of leadership.
A business can choose the level of their involvement. They can sponsor tools, plants and materials. They can offer staff volunteering days or arrange team building sessions. They can fund skills and services or promote the project on social media. Effective collaboration requires listening to what the community actually needs. This is particularly true if the business wants to build long-term partnerships and commit to ongoing involvement with the community.
Community projects benefit business: working together builds trust, strengthens local relationships, supports sustainability goals, and can improve employee engagement and brand reputation.