Championing CSR Across Borders project (December 2008 – April 2010) is funded by the PROGRESS programme of the European Commission (Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities DG).
The project is in accordance with the general objectives of the programme: by improving knowledge / understanding, promoting networking / mutual learning, raising awareness of the role of Europe and build the capacity of partners to promote, support and further develop EU policies/objectives.
Project partners are:
- Dacorum Council for Voluntary Service (lead partner - the UK),
- BARDA (Bulgaria),
- Gestao Total e Invacao Empresarial, Consultores S.A (Portugal),
- East of England Development Agency (the UK),
- Exemplas Ltd (the UK), Kecskemeti Genius Loci Kozhasznu Alapitvany (Hungary) and
- NGO Cultural Tolerance Friendship (Latvia).
Partners undertake in each country a programme of work placement and produce case study brochures and website material to disseminate results. They produce a template to measure good practice in the fields of environment responsibility, cash giving, gifts in kind, volunteering, employment practices, etc.
The partnership further develops comparative research to measure present position and progress in the development of CSR good practice in the partner locality. Another activity is to develop a pro-active dissemination mechanism through the engagement of MEP’s, decision makers, regional office network etc, which build upon the strong existing networks and expertise. Finally, the project envisages work with educational institutions to develop learning packages to promote CSR
Final Conference – Brussels March 2010
The final project conference, “CSR - Local Experiences to the European Stage” was held in Brussels on 23/24 March and comprised two events.
On 23rd March 2010, Richard Howitt MEP hosted a Reception in the European Parliament to promote the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility in shaping an inclusive society and the role Championing CSR Across Borders has played in meeting this objective. The Reception was attended by 40 people comprising MEP’s, their office staff and project partners.
On 24th March 2010 in the East of England Regional Office in Brussels a Seminar was held to disseminate the project. There were two external key note speakers, Sue Bird from the European Commission Employment Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities DG and Carien Duisterwinkel from CSR Europe. Both of these speakers shared their knowledge and insight into the strategic direction of Corporate Social Responsibility at a European level.
The Seminar, which was attended by 42 delegates, also included a series of presentations on the theme of how Corporate Social Responsibility can make a positive contribution to improving the quality of life at a local level. The presentation topics covered:
· The programme of study visits to Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal and UK.
· Tutoring in Academic Settings
· Good practice in employee volunteering
· Good practice in providing work experience and employment opportunities
· Tools for Measuring Good Practice
Both the Reception and the Seminar also learned about the example of Hotel Panda in Budapest. This is operated on a commercial model, is a 4 star hotel with above average occupancy for the city and where 95% of the staff have a disability. As a model, it is inspirational in terms of what is possible for a business to operate successful and fulfil an important social need.
The PowerPoint Presentations from the Brussels Seminar are available to download (click here).
For more information on the project, please e-mail musarat1@communityactiondacorum.org.uk
