Cover story


know how, or what type of support schools require. So schools may need to take the lead by approaching companies with a realistic and attractive plan or project. As an inclusive school that


welcomes children from all faiths and backgrounds, Ann Edwards likes to be a bit quirky. We have a double- decker bus as our school library, and a four-metre tepee for mindfulness and wellbeing sessions. I’ve promoted these initiatives as “unique selling points” that appeal to businesses – and have offered opportunities for companies to support us. And it’s worked! More than 30 local and national


businesses donated a total of £11,500 towards the library bus, after I approached them in person or through LinkedIn. Six employees from Bosch Rexroth – specialists in drive and control technology – spent a day decommissioning the bus and also upgrading our SARA (silent and reflection area) garden by cutting back bushes and laying new gravel. Since October, our local Co-op in


South Cerney has provide weekly food parcels for our families most in


‘People in positions of power are still people. If you have a story to pitch, then go ahead and pitch it’


need, donating more than £1,750 of food in just 16 weeks. Meanwhile, during the most recent lockdown, DXC Technologies – a global IT company with offices in Tewkesbury and Bristol – donated 50 laptops so that pupils without access to devices could engage with home-learning. Also during the last lockdown,


I posted a status update on LinkedIn about celebrating #ChildrensMental HealthWeek with vulnerable and keyworker children attending school. My post was spotted by Telephone Europe director David Murphy, who made the idea a reality by putting money for 30 large pizzas in our bank account the same day! Local coach operator Barnes Coaches then kindly delivered the pizzas to the school doors. We’re also grateful to employees


of teaching supply agency Class People, who have volunteered at our school fairs, and to classic car company Thornley Kelham, which brought luxury cars to our school site to promote road safety week.


What’s in it for businesses? There are always gains. At our school, this ranges from a simple ‘thank you’ in our fortnightly newsletter (with a reach of hundreds of parents and carers), to something more permanent that recognises the support given, such as a logo


displayed on the school site. For businesses, working with our school becomes part of a long-term marketing strategy, allowing them to reach out to new customer markets and build their brand profile and customer loyalty. Our communication channels


allow us to spread the word about new projects and opportunities to a wide audience with a few clicks of a button. While this is primarily parents, it’s also a way of tapping into where parents work. When people view these messages with their workplace hat on, they see the potential for great content to showcase how they are engaging with the education sector. What’s more, helping a school


demonstrates that a business has a strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) ethos. Many employees have children and therefore have some first-hand knowledge of just how tough it is for schools at the moment. They will give back because it makes them feel good, look good, and because it benefits not only their own children but also future generations. If a business partners with a


school, it could inspire a pupil to work for them, or at least have a passion for their sector! Knowing they were part of that journey should be all the motivation a business needs.’


FundEd SUMMER 2021 13


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