Smarter Giving Update – Q1

Once again, we have seen some incredible effort by local businesses in support of charities, community groups and schools in the surrounding area as part of our Smarter Giving initiative. 

Skill-Sharing 

A Marketing Manager from The Landmark London provided guidance and support to HomeStart Westminster on their marketing collateral, website and social media accounts.  

Education and Employment 

A trainee solicitor from Forsters provided one to one mentoring session to a local student interested in a career in law.  

Several businesses got involved in Marylebone Boys School’s Year 12 Development Week including Cromwell Properties delivering a workshop on real estate, BDO and Knight Frank offering a student engagement session with panel of graduates and school leavers, Derwent London and Laing O’Rourke holding a tour and talk around property and construction, and Streathers providing an insight session. 

HSBC, Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, and Knight Frank took part in the Feathers Association – a local youth club – career day speaking about their industries.  

And HSBC carried out career session with Year 10 students at King Solomon Academy as part of its work experience week. 

Donations  

London Business School donated two office pods to Marylebone Boys School. 

The Portman Estate donated £2000 sponsorship to University of Westminster BA Architect Course show. They also donated £1,800 funding to Newpin Elderly Centre for its summer trip to Brighton and office furniture to the Feathers Association for its youth club. 

Businesses at 95 Wigmore Street donated money to the Young Westminster Foundation. 

The Hyatt Regency London- The Churchill donated two armchairs and cushions to Home-Start Westminster and three armchairs to Smartworks.  

The Zetter Townhouse, 55 Baker Street, and BNP Paribas donated reusable water bottles and sunscreen bottles to vulnerable women at The Marylebone Project.  

First Mile donated five laptops to St Marylebone School 

And a big thank you to the businesses that took part in our food collection drive in June.  Over 35 bags of food items were donated to The Marylebone Project, Marylebone FoodCycle and St Mary’s Social Supermarket. Thank you to the businesses at 10 Portman Square, 55 Baker Street, 95 Wigmore Street, Derwent London, HSBC, Invesco, Madame Tussauds, and University of Westminster. 

Volunteering 

A team from Colliers painted and did a big clear up at North Paddington Youth Club, while the team at Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill painted the lounge area at The Marylebone Project’s drop-in centre. They both also undertook some litter picking around Church Street. 

Some graduates from Colliers provided refreshments and an activity at the Newpin elderly drop-in centre, and Selfridges took part in some gardening and offered refreshments at the Penfold Community Hub.  

Find out more about our Smarter Giving initiative here, how you and your business can get involved alongside more details about some of the local charities and community groups that we work with. Contact our Community Impact Manager, Hannah, if you would like more information.