An ethically and socially responsible business - our commitment
to Corporate Social Responsibility
We believe that all businesses have a duty to be socially
responsible, to re-invest in society, be active contributors to the
local community, and try to minimise their environmental impacts.
As such, M·E·L has three strands to our Corporate Social
Responsibility Programme:
Charity fundraising
We run regular charitable fundraising activities, and our chosen
charity for 2011/12 is the Woodland Trust. This was a charity close
to the heart of Dr Chloe Nikitas, a former member of staff who
sadly passed away. Every month, staff we have a dress down day,
cake sales and organise events such as pub quizzes, Wii games
nights and a 'Come Dine with Me' competition! Our aim is to raise
around £500 this year. Some of our staff also run charity races to
raise money for this good cause.
Malcolm Green Memorial
Fund
Our charity for 2009-11 was the Malcolm Green Memorial Fund.
Malcolm Green was an Executive Director at M·E·L from 1994 before
developing prostate cancer leading to his untimely death in 2008.
Malcolm was nationally renowned in the field of community
regeneration, so the Malcolm Green Memorial Fund was set up in 2009
with funding 'in perpetuity' from M∙E∙L Research.
Our corporate commitment is to offer an annual £1,000 award to
support grass roots community or voluntary organisations, or
individuals working in socially and economically disadvantaged
areas, that will benefit the regeneration of the wider community.
The awards are made annually by an independent board of trustees
consisting of Malcolm's family, friends and colleagues, whose aim
is to perpetuate the good causes upon which Malcolm devoted so much
of his life and enthusiasm.
As well as the £1,000 company contribution, our staff held
monthly fund-raising events to help raise extra money for the MGMF.
Around £1,000 was raised by staff for the Fund.
Individuals and organisations are also welcome to donate money
to the Malcolm Green Memorial Fund. If this is something you are
interested in finding out more about, please email Vickie Pargetter for further
information.
Environmental practices
Around half of M·E·L's business is with clients in the
environment and waste management field. These include local
authorities, Energy Saving Trust and WRAP (Waste and Resources
Action Programme), the government body responsible for encouraging
reuse and recycling of resources in the UK. As such, we take our
own environmental practices very seriously and have a dedicated
internal team who look after our Environment
Responsibilities. Wherever possible, we print our surveys
(whether postal or using for face to face interviews) on recycled
paper, double-sided and recycle all our internal office paper and
any paper not used.
Take a look at the steps we take to implement our environmental
policy.
Working with the local community
A number of our staff are involved in local community projects
outside of work, but we are looking to bring this into work so that
we can help share our skills with others, or help benefit the local
community. As part of our corporate commitment to community
involvement, employee activities currently include:
- Volunteer membership of a community regeneration board
- Membership of a residents local Neighbourhood Forum
- Involvement in a Youth and Community Centre advisory committee
on a disadvantaged municipal estate.