Leicester Giving Day

Established by Embark CSR to promote partnerships between business and charities, Leicester Giving Day involved more than 100 organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Stacey Wragg, Embark CSR Director, said: “The success of Leicester Giving Day was down to the organisations and individuals that embraced the concept. And of course, our sponsors, University of Leicester, AKN Build and SSR Builders whose generosity support made the day possible.”

During the day, fi ve community hubs were open at Soft Touch Arts, Highcross Leicester, Old Moses Cabin, The Zinthiya Trust and St Martin’s House and Conference Centre, which showcased the work of local charities and socially responsible businesses. There was also a wide range of events taking place elsewhere, promoted by business and charity partners that were designed to highlight a number of important issues including sustainable textiles, road safety for young people and support for bereaved parents.

A unique feature of the day was the gift by Sandicli e Ford of one of its new E-Transit vans which Leicester Giving Day personnel used to pick up food donations for local foodbank, Wesley Hall Community Centre.

Leicester Business Festival handed over the fi nal day of the festival to Leicester Giving Day and all events taking place on the day had a philanthropic theme.

Richard Osborn, Regional director at Excello Law, Chair and a director of the LBF Community Interest Company (CiC), said: “Thank you to Chris Shaw and Stacey Wragg from Embark CSR for making the fi rst ever Leicester Giving Day happen, a success and a truly unique part of the Leicester Business Festival (LBF). The day provided a philanthropic way for businesses to engage with the festival and shone the spotlight on those who make living and working in Leicester even better.”

On the evening of the 18th, Embark CSR also held the Giving Day Gala, which took place at St Martin’s House. The Giving Day Gala saw the announcement of the four Community Impact Programme winners and four Leicester Social Responsibility Award winners.

Gala attendees were able to listen to presentations from cofounders Chris Shaw and Stacey, as well as Professor Deputy Dean at the University of Leicester Business School, Paul Baines, and Chair of the Leicester Business festival CiC Richard Osborne.

All welcomed the establishment of a Giving Day for Leicester, and stressed the generosity of everyone involved, especially at such a di cult time for the local economy.

Richard added: “The gala awards evening and ceremony was the perfect way to close this year’s Business Festival, celebrating and acknowledging the special commitment from businesses. Here’s to even more people getting involved next year!”

To get involved in next year’s Leicester Giving Day, go to leicestergiving.uk.

Eko Joe Butterfl y Beacons FSD FC CiC LCFC in the Community

Cambridge and Counties Bank

(Socially Responsible Business of the Year) for their unstinting support of the National Space Centre’s Ignite community engagement programme Shoe Zone and Young Leicestershire partnership (Business & Charity Partnership of the Year), which helped sustain support for young people during and after the Covid-19 pandemic Bid Leicester and the Homelessness Charter (Innovation in Social Responsibility), for its work in raising funds to tackle homelessness in the city Lindzi Mayann (Social Responsibility Newcomer of the Year) for her work in developing new approaches to support people with ADHD