# Most City firms "committed to community involvement"

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2003/10/30/most-city-firms-quotcommitted-community-involvementquot/
- Published: 2003-10-30T00:00:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**A survey for Heart of the City finds that 97% of large companies (those with over
250 employees) make donations to charities, good causes or community projects.**

The survey by MORI also found that two in three City firms (67%) recognise the benefits
of having a community programme. Medium-sized firms (those with between 50 to 250
employees) are also demonstrating commitment, with 72% now making a contribution
to the community, as are small companies (those with between 10 and 49 employees),
64% of whom are involved.

Heart of the City is a joint initiative launched in 2000 by the Bank of England,
the Corporation of London and the Financial Services Authority, to encourage City
and Docklands companies to engage in Community involvement and charitable giving.

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It estimates that £360 million is donated by businesses operating in the City of
London and Canary Wharf, of which £47 million represents benefits in kind. In addition,
the Livery Companies and City trusts also make important contributions.

Firms are engaged in other types of support as well. Seventy five per cent of large
firms now encourage employees to take an active involvement by supporting them in
some way, or by allowing staff to take time off to do this. However, only one in
five (19%) of the medium sized companies and one in eleven (9%) of smaller companies
have voluntary programmes in place.

This is the second survey of community involvement undertaken by Heart of the City
and shows an increased level of engagement among larger companies. However, it points
to the need for more focus on the small to medium sized sectors.

Overall, 1,260 questionnaires were sent out in early August 2003 to firms based 
in the City, City fringe and Docklands. The average response rate was 7.5%, although
16% of large firms responded. A weighting procedure was used to scale the results
so that they more accurately reflected the total population. Data was obtained from
secondary sources on City-based charitable trusts and Livery Companies.

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