A PIONEERING project to encourage workplace volunteering has received backing from some of the region's leading firms.  

Darlington Cares was launched last year to form the first dedicated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and employee volunteering initiative in the town. 

The initiative works by centrally coordinating the volunteering power of its members and their staff and matching these to projects and charities in the local community. 

Since the project started at the end of October activities have included a bike amnesty and volunteer repair sessions with Bike Stop and an outdoor volunteering challenge at the West Park nature reserve.

Upcoming projects will include working with Darlington Partnership on its ‘Good Neighbours’ scheme; challenges at Geneva Woods and The Bridge visual arts centre and digital access sessions delivered by EE at the Job Centre Plus.

Nine employers make up the board of Darlington Cares, including Cummins Engines, Darlington Borough Council, DeepOcean, EE, Marchday, Newsquest North East, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, Sherwoods and Teesside University. 

The project is chaired by Professor Cliff Hardcastle, deputy vice chancellor at Teesside University for research and business engagement.

Sainsbury's and Modus Seabed Intervention recently joined as members.

The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not new to Darlington and many members of the scheme have been prominent supporters of local and national charities, community initiatives and environmental projects. 

Four of the private sector founding board members talk about their reason for joining Darlington Cares: 

Anne Yare, the human resources director of DeepOcean, said: 

"For DeepOcean making the decision to be part of the Darlington Cares Partnership was an easy one, we are committed to participating and supporting volunteering initiatives which have an impact on the environment and our community.

"We place a great deal of importance on corporate responsibility and as such being part of the local community in Darlington matters.
"Our head-office has been based in Darlington since August 2000 and over two thirds of our colleagues live either in Darlington or the surrounding areas."

John Orchard, the director of Marchday Group Plc, said: 

"We think it's possible to act commercially whilst having a social conscience and we get real pleasure out of our involvement with innovative community initiatives. When we heard about 'Cares' and the idea of pooling CSR resources to deliver meaningful projects we were keen to get involved.

"Marchday own a large regeneration project, Lingfield Point in Darlington and highly value our strong relationships with the local community and local businesses. Our membership of Cares is a great way of enjoying those existing relationships and  building new ones."

Alasdair MacConachie OBE, managing director of Sherwoods Group, said:

“Having seen the tremendous effect that York Cares has on that city I am very enthusiastic about the potential the strategy could have on Darlington and its immediate area.  With the changes happening with our ever enthusiastic council, projects like this can add huge value to the community at large. 

"As Chairman of our local strategy partnership, Chairman of the Friends of the Darlington Memorial Hospital, Chairman of St Teresa’s Hospice, and Chairman of Darlington College, one experiences great need for the vision of Darlington Cares. Part of Darlington Cares strategy is to do those project that would assist their completion that normally wouldn’t or couldn’t get done. 

"Involving all employers in the Darlington catchment area with a particular focus on employees contributing to their own communities and their well-being demonstrates that the leadership, vision and grip on Darlington by those that can is being effective.”

Des McMenamin, plant manager at Cummins, said:

"Serving and improving the communities in which we live is one of Cummins' key values. Our staff have been dedicating their time to local initiatives for many years, as part of our company projects and in their own time. 

"Supporting Darlington Cares enables Cummins to connect with other like minded organisations, share our experiences and hopefully deliver a more far-reaching service with a higher impact on the most deserving causes."

Darlington Cares offers a flexible tier of membership opportunities for local businesses. 

Further details are available from www.darlingtoncares.co.uk or you can contact Katie Blundell, programme manager for Cares on 01642 738970, email: k.blundell@tees.acuk