Corporate social responsibility

Introduction

As a local authority responsible for towns and communities across Stockton-on-Tees and as a large employer, with more than 3,000 people working for us, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is important.

Corporate social responsibility is the idea that an organisation should play a positive role in the community and consider the environmental and social impact of business decisions they make. It can provide real benefits for residents and community groups while making the most of what businesses and organisations can offer.

As part of A Fairer Stockton-on-Tees, we're working to develop and coordinate a Borough-wide approach to corporate social responsibility that reflects the values and culture of the Council.

We're aware that many companies and individuals are already supporting local communities in various ways. We are not asking for any of this good work to stop, we want to enable you to partner with key organisations and groups to directly address some of the needs and issues in our area.

How you can help us make a big difference

We want to hear from any and every business who work in Stockton-on-Tees, from start-ups to multinationals, and any organisations too so we can work in partnership with you to address key issues and make a real difference for our area, our environment, our employees, our residents and our communities.

Visit the Stockton Volunteers CSR page to get started.

Here are just some of the ways you and your organisation can get involved.

Giving time

Many local organisations would benefit from a corporate donation of staff time to help with projects and campaigns. Employer supported volunteering allows smaller charities and community groups to benefit from your staff's skills from ICT and marketing help to gardening and decorating.

Giving resources

Smaller organisations and community groups are always looking for funding opportunities. Could you donate money or other resources to help them achieve their goals? For example, we've partnered with the Good Things Foundation to deliver mobile data to digitally excluded people so they can access things like online public services and vital employment and health information. You could help by sponsoring events, providing raffle prizes, or undertake team challenges to fundraise or match fund for a worthy cause. For example, a £500 donation would allow a charity or independent organisation to open a Warm Space with the knowledge they have funding towards their heating costs. This could be the difference between being able to provide a vital service for local people or not. Local businesses have already supported the Warm Spaces activities offer, with their generous donations facilitating eight free weekend cinema screenings for local families at ARC in Stockton so they can stay warm while enjoying something they may not have otherwise afforded.

Giving in-kind

Could you offer the use of a venue to a charity or group to meet or hold activity sessions? Can you share the expertise and knowledge of your staff to provide professional advice on things like legal issues, HR queries or communications?

Providing work experience

Could your business or organisation help people to build up their skills by offering work experience opportunities?

Examples

Watch the short video of how Corporate Social Responsibility can help projects and non-profits in delivering their work on the A Fairer Stockton-on-Tees webpage.

What the Council is doing

Caring for our environment

We have a proud history of protecting our environment. Our efforts in the past ten years have reduced our own greenhouse emissions by nearly 60% and delivered major environmental enhancements across the borough. Our Environmental Sustainability and Carbon Reduction Strategy 2022 to 2032 (PDF) [1MB] details our plans to achieve net zero status by 2032, adapt to the challenges of climate change and more.

Looking after our staff

We work hard to ensure that the Council is a great place to work. We offer lots of benefits to attract great people and keep them here so they can be the best versions of themselves to serve our residents. These include flexitime, sick pay, pension schemes, annual leave, work and life balance, flexible working, compassionate leave and parental policy, car leasing, cycle to work scheme and public transport discounts. We work in partnership with trade unions on issues affecting the Council's staff.

We also invest in the health and wellbeing of our staff with access to an Occupational Health Service, employee wellbeing, mental health support, physiotherapy services and discounted leisure access with Tees Active.

Professional Development is important to us, so we are committed to supporting people access the learning opportunities they need to progress. The Council has held Investors in People Award status since 2000. In partnership with Catalyst, we developed a Volunteering Strategy for Stockton-on-Tees 2021-2026 which outlines a vision for mutually beneficial volunteering opportunities across the borough. Find out more about working for the Council.

Maximising the positive impact of contracts

Our Procurement team have a legal responsibility through the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 to consider how what is to be procured might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the relevant area - this is defined as social value. We use a tool to identify the additional value successful contractors bring to the area when they are awarded contracts for goods, services or works through a number of themes. These themes include growing jobs, supporting business growth, creating healthier, safer and more resilient communities and protecting and improving our environment.

Our contractors are encouraged to deliver against these themes above and beyond the scope of the contract providing a positive impact across the borough.

Read our Social Value Policy to understand more (PDF) [194KB] .

Find out more about how you can do business with the Council.

Reducing inequalities

A Fairer Stockton-on-Tees (FSOT) is a strategic ten-year framework for tackling inequalities across the borough. Nine of our 26 wards are in the 10% most deprived in the country and there is an average male life expectancy gap of 21 years between the most and least deprived areas. We're committed to doing something about it.

A Fairer Stockton-on-Tees' immediate focus is on coordinating activity and shaping Council services, working with partner organisations, to ensure the most vulnerable individuals and families receive the help they need to navigate the cost of living crisis. Longer-term, we are reviewing the Council as a large organisation and how our role as a major employer, commissioner and procurer can best support the development of the borough.

This includes the Cost of Living Support Hub which gathers key support and resources in a 'one-stop shop', the Warm Spaces in Stockton-on-Tees scheme featuring more than 50 venues and the Databank campaign delivering free mobile data, calls and texts to those most in need.

Helping residents back into work

The Employment and Training Hub, based in Wellington Square, has a dedicated team of experts that can help anyone over the age of 16 with anything employment or training related.

Working with Stockton Learning and Skills and Youth Direction partners, there's help on offer for everything from CV writing to interview techniques and apprenticeships to one-to-one support.

Building strong community networks

Community cohesion is strong in Stockton-on-Tees and our Community Partnerships enable people and organisations to work together in their areas to tackle issues relating to poverty, isolation and loneliness so it's an even better place to live. We have seven partnerships covering Billingham, Ingleby Barwick, Norton, Stockton Central, Stockton Rural, Stockton West and Thornaby communities.

Building a great place to grow up

Bright Minds Big Futures (BMBF) is a national award-winning youth-led movement working with the Council to develop the borough as a great place for young people. BMBF members get involved with a wide range of initiatives including events, social action projects and social media campaigns.

Caring for the borough's vulnerable children

'No Limits' is our programme to support staff to work with and for the children in the care of the local authority, made up of two strands - 'giving time' and 'giving money'.

The first strand provides a voluntary opportunity for employees to spend time with a young person one-on-one and also enables the young person to be offered opportunities to engage in social, leisure, recreational and sporting activities.

The second strand provides staff the opportunity to make a financial donation, directly through the corporate payroll, to pay money directly into a fund supporting the activities of the children in our care.

The Council's corporate social responsibility priorities

We have some immediate priorities in direct response to the ongoing cost of living crisis. They have been identified via the feedback received from our communities and partner organisations. These priorities will change and develop over time but we are currently seeking support around:

Energy crisis and developing our Community Spaces offer. Many households are facing tough decision about whether and when they may be able to afford to heat their home. More than 50 venues are opening their doors as part of the Community Spaces directory, offering different facilities. We are in need of venues able to welcome people on evenings and weekends. We're also looking for help in developing activities that can be enjoyed from our Community Spaces, to encourage individuals and families to make the most of their visits.
Food and resources for our community pantries and food banks via the Stockton-on-Tees Food Power Network. We're seeing increased strain on the supplies going to our food crisis facilities as the cost of living challenges mean people may not be able to afford to support them as they have previously. We need more stock of long-life food products as well as essential hygiene and sanitary items to help those who are struggling right now.

How to get involved