Below is a snapshot of what we have been up to since the partnership launched in November 2012 :
- We ran a diagnostic workshop with the three charities to identify their needs.
- So far we’ve scoped out over ten engagements and have already delivered a strategy workshop and started an IT advisory project reviewing a finance accounting system.
- Our people have been involved in a number of activities, for example working directly with children in Reading and London to encourage reading for pleasure and supporting Shelter shops in Manchester and London to help generate revenue.
- Our people are also mentoring Action for Literacy and Shelter staff in Business Development, Procurement, VAT, Facilities Management and Finance.
- We are working with the charities to help them build a more sustainable, long term volunteering programme so they can get more value from volunteers as part of their need to work smarter in the face of funding challenges.
- We have been talking to both charities about how we can support them on a local and national level.
- We have convened a working party across our Housing, Infrastructure and Financial Services teams to support our policy work with Shelter, looking at blockers and enablers in the housing policy landscape.
- We hope to set up something similar for Action for Literacy.
- A number of our people have volunteered as Campaigns Ambassadors to help lobby at the grass-roots level.
We are committed to raising over £1 million in funds to support Action for Literacy and Shelter. We have a national calendar of fundraising activities and encourage individuals, teams and offices across the UK to get involved.
We have raised over £235k as a firm, enabling 1,958 young people to gain access to better literacy provision and 509 families to remain safe and secure in their homes. The fundraising has included:
- The First Hour Appeal – Partners and staff were invited to donate the first hour of their 2013 pay to the national charities. A record amount was raised through over 1,600 staff and partners donating their first hour’s salary of 2013 to the charities. With staff donations matched by the firm, the final total raised was £123,770 – slightly up on last year’s appeal, and the highest amount KPMG has ever raised through the initiative. Read the press release.
- Charity calendars – We raised over £6k by selling 2,000 2013 charity calendars. Staff photos were entered into a competition for the calendar pictures.
- Vertical Rush – 23 KPMG employees took part in Shelter’s Vertical Rush challenge (external link) in March 2013, raising over £4,500. Vertical Rush is Shelter’s award-winning tower running challenge which sees over 1,000 people race up 920 steps to the top of Tower 42, one of London’s tallest buildings!
“Participating in Vertical Rush allowed myself and colleagues to raise funds for a vital charity, whilst enjoying a fun packed day. The amount of support and enthusiasm that we received from friends, family, colleagues and Shelter was outstanding. The experience was so worthwhile, and the atmosphere so electric, that I have already registered my interest for next year! Myself and my cracking team raised a total of £1,265.92 – and are looking forward to raising the bar even higher for next year! “ Trudie Roiz de Sa, Graduate Trainee, London
- Where’s Wally fun run – Over 30 KPMG employees took part in National Literacy Trust’s Where’s Wally (external link) 5k or 10k run. Adam Rivers, Assistant Manager in the forensic practice, spoke about the day: “Sunday’s event was great fun – although it felt more like an arctic expedition than a springtime jog around the park. I’m sure seeing over 1,000 people dressed as Where’s Wally running a 10k in the snow isn’t something most participants will forget for a while! Prior to the race over £80,000 had been raised for the National Literacy Trust, something which I think is a testament to its success.”
