“There is no better way to mark the Coronation than lending a hand to those that need it”, says Chief Executive of BITC - Business in the Community

“There is no better way to mark the Coronation than lending a hand to those that need it”, says Chief Executive of BITC

As part of His Majesty The King’s Coronation, the Big Help Out has been set up to raise awareness of the importance of volunteering and to encourage businesses across the UK to volunteer in their local communities on 8 May 2023 and beyond.

Volunteering has never been more important, especially as the current cost-of-living crisis continues and communities rebuild following the pandemic. BITC is working with its network of businesses which represent over 20% of the UK workforce to encourage and support them in getting more employees engaged in long-term volunteering.

In 2020, to respond to the pandemic, Business in the Community (BITC) launched the National Business Response Network (NBRN) to help match business resources to community organisations in need. Two million people have been supported through NBRN with businesses providing items such as laptops and smartphones, warm clothing and bedding, food packaging, energy-efficient products and kitchen equipment. The NBRN also matches business skills such as job coaching, wellbeing mentorship and marketing, sales, fundraising and operational advice to help community organisations run their services.

In light of the cost-of-living crisis, BITC reactivated the National Business Response Network to support those organisations that are helping those who are struggling to make ends meet. BITC is aiming to fulfil an additional 1,000 requests of support for community organisations by the end of June 2023, creating more than £350,000 of investment from businesses to communities. So far, BITC is on track to meet these targets.

Mary Macleod, Chief Executive of Business in the Community, said: 

“His Majesty has always been a firm believer in the power of collective business action being a force for good, which is why there is no better way to mark the Coronation than lending a hand to those that need it and creating a long-term legacy of volunteering.

“Business in the Community knows only too well from the response we have had to the National Business Response Network that there is a real desire from businesses to support people and community organisations. By volunteering time, skills and resources, businesses can together make a real difference in the lives of others and can transform communities and create a fairer, more equitable society.”

ENDS 

Notes to editor 
 

  1. Find out more information about the National Business Response Network.
  2. Find out more information about The Big Help Out here.  
     

For further information, please contact Aoife Butler Nolan, Head of Media, Public Affairs and Policy, on 07702 903 216. 

About Business in the Community

Business in the Community is the UK’s largest and most influential responsible business network dedicated to building a fairer and greener world together, supported by His Majesty the King for over 40 years. We inspire, engage and challenge purposeful leaders to take practical action to mobilise their collective strength as a force for good in society.