Resources

The International Campaign at BITC

By 2010 a total of 27,093 people had been reached by the Health Clinics.

Beneficiaries are offered routine check-ups, free medicines and vaccinations amongst other general medical assistance.

Download as a PDF

International, Highly Commended

Marshalls - Tackling child education and health issues in India

The Coffey International Award
Highly Commended 2011

Both of my children go to school and get a well nutritioned midday meal which makes them immune and strong. My children go to school and study there. Along with that they learn about many good things and develop good habits. When they don’t go to study, teachers themselves come and take the children to school.

M. is 35. All members of her family are illiterate. This is the first time both of her children are in education.

Since February 2007, Marshalls’ investment in Indian NGO Hadoti Hast Shlip Sansthan has made a substantial impact. The programme is working in international partnerships to tackle child education and health issues in India and has touched the lives of over 35,000 people, who previously had no access to hospitals, schools and education.

You need the latest Flash installed and Javascript enabled to view media on this page. Please ensure Javascript has been enabled in your browser settings. You can download Flash with the link below.

Get Flash Player now

Marshalls - The Process

Sustainability for Marshalls is based on three elements: economic, environmental and social.

This means that they aim to operate a successful and profitable business whilst minimising their impact on the environment and looking after the people and communities that they work with both in the UK and overseas.

Marshalls became the first company in the hard landscaping industry to belong to the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), which brings together global companies, trade unions and NGOs, with the focus on developing practical solutions to ethical trade that deliver concrete benefits for workers.

Through being part of the ETI, Marshalls has committed to improving the lives of workers who make its products and informing consumers of the origins of the stone products they purchase for their garden, patio or driveway.

Underpinning the Marshalls supply chain model is the ETI Base Code, based on the International Labour Organisations’ conventions and widely accepted as a model code of practice.

Pioneering ethical supply chain management with sole Indian sandstone supplier Stone Shippers India, Marshalls has committed to taking the ETI Base Code as a minimum. As well as regular independent auditing to ensure that safety, environmental and human rights laws are upheld by its suppliers, Marshalls appointed a full time social auditor who upholds the ETI Base Code and works directly with quarry workers.

Marshalls has gone on to build on its supplier partnership and relationship with local NGO Hadoti Hast Shilp Sansthan. Finding the right NGO partner in India was the biggest challenge for Marshalls and had to undertake serious research to find one. They needed an NGO with local knowledge, with expertise and experience in managing education and health programmes on the ground and with a can-do, hard working attitude.

Hadoti is helping to improve the lives of vulnerable families working in the quarries around Bhundi and Kota in Rajasthan. Working together, Marshalls and Hadoti are now running four free schools and six free Health Centres in the heart of the quarrying area in Bundi – giving children an education they would not have received and ensuring that their welfare, and the welfare of their families are catered for.

Top Tips from Marshalls

Find the right partner and work together to effect real change.
Manage your expectations – you won’t change everything immediately so set yourself achievable goals where you can really make a difference.
See the area for yourself – building a programme based solely on British views will lead to failure. You need to go to the area you’re working in, see for yourself firsthand what the issues are and work with a reputable partner.

Impact

Business Benefits

Through adoption of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code, Marshalls is now able to demonstrate a clear supply chain from quarry to UK patio which is a unique selling point. If customers understand that by buying ethically sourced stone they can help to support fair wages, child protection and social progress in the developing world, then everyone benefits.
In the UK, employees have embraced Marshalls’ ethical approach and been heavily involved in raising the profile of the company locally and nationally as part of its Corporate Responsibility activity. Employees used their links with a local Yorkshire football club who decided to donate surplus kits to children at one of the street schools in Rajasthan.
In India, Marshalls and Stone Shippers India employees are made aware of the ETI Base Code and are provided personal protective equipment and training on health & safety.
During 2010, Marshalls underwent a process of brand development and evolution. This brand evolution firmly captures Marshalls’ desire to engage in creating and sustaining better landscapes by engaging in creative and innovative solutions to some of society’s most pressing issues.

Impact on society

Since February 2007, Marshalls’ investment in Indian NGO Hadoti Hast Shlip Sansthan has made a substantial impact. The programme has touched the lives of over 35,000 people, who previously had no access to hospitals, schools and education.
Education: In 2010, 304 children attended four regular schools and six street schools operating in Gararda, Gawar, Bewadia, Kewadia, Kanwarpura, Palka and Golpur. The schools have well equipped classrooms and provide a midday meal, for pupils aged 6-14 years.
Health programme: Marshalls’ health programme is providing free clinics, health camps and door-to-door visits which are actively combating diseases like TB, asthma, malaria and skin conditions.
Insurance: Since 2007, Marshalls has enabled Hadoti to provide insurance to 3,200 workers and they are currently identifying hundreds of others who they can help.