Safestore and Our Community
| Target |
|
Perfomance 2022/23 |
Provision of free/discounted space and additional support to high impact local community groups
Opportunity led |
|
provided 20,941 sq ft worth £919,566 |
Strengthening local partnerships and community wellbeing
Collaborating for positive change
Our business is committed to engaging in co-operative efforts for constructive transformation within our local community. We believe that by working together with community organisations, residents, and other businesses, we can make a meaningful impact. Whether it's supporting local initiatives, promoting sustainability, or furthering economic growth, we are dedicated to being a force for positive change. Our goal is to create a stronger community where everyone can thrive.
We continue to do this by:
- developing brownfield sites
- actively engaging with local communities when we establish a new store
- identifying and implementing greener approaches in the way we build and operate our stores
- helping charities and communities to make better use of limited space
- creating and sustaining local employment opportunities directly and indirectly through the many small and medium-sized enterprises which use our space
Supporting community development
We are committed to supporting charities and community initiatives because we understand the importance of championing causes that resonate with our colleagues, customers, and local neighbours. In 132 stores across the UK, we continue to:
- provide fundraising support to existing and new local charity partners
- offer subsidised storage space to local communities through our ‘charity room in every store’ scheme
- actively seek out practical and creative solutions by working with and supporting a number of charitable causes
- leverage social media and our blog platform to promote our charity partners and raise awareness of their cause
During the year, the space occupied by local charities in 184 units across 104 stores was 20,941 sq ft and worth £919,566 (FY2022: £727,356). Our aspiration is to have at least one subsidised charity room in every store.
By donating subsidised storage space to registered charities, we aim to contribute to the wellbeing and progress of the communities in which we are based. It is our belief that businesses have a responsibility to give back and create a positive impact, and we are dedicated to playing our part in building a better future for all.
Responding to local needs
Our commitment to responding to the needs of local charities and not-for-profit organisations reflects our corporate values and a demonstration of our dedication to making a meaningful difference where it matters most – in our community. We continue to extend financial support to both local and national charities, offering subsidised storage space to facilitate their invaluable work in various areas such as homelessness, mental health, domestic violence, and more.
The provision of subsidised storage space is a tangible way in which we support the essential work of charities within our local community, by reducing their costs and empowering them to operate more efficiently, allocate resources effectively, and ultimately, focus more on their primary mission of making a positive impact on those they serve.
|
During December, our Head Office colleagues supported a collection for a local foodbank. By actively participating in such charitable activities, we strengthen our bond as a team and demonstrate our commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those in need within our local community. We believe that, together, we can make a difference that extends far beyond the walls of our workplace.
|
|
|
Safestore holds a charitable fund with Quartet Community Foundation, dedicated to supporting local organisations that help people in need in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Between April 2022 and March 2023, Quartet awarded over £5 million in grants to over 1,000 local charitable organisations. This year, Safestore’s funding has been allocated to its Cost of Living Fund, supporting people in the local community who have been struggling to meet their basic needs. Grants have particularly focused on food and fuel poverty, supporting community food projects, and projects providing advice on dealing with rising energy prices.
HandsOn London
For the eleventh year in a row, Safestore UK teamed up with the WrapUp London campaign to support its annual coat drive to help those in need during the winter of 2022.
More than 20,300 coats were collected during the campaign, which began in early November and ran through December. Coats were distributed to the homeless, refugee families, the elderly, those fleeing domestic violence, and others living in crisis through a network of over 100 London charities and community groups.
Several Safestore UK centres were again used as local drop-off points for ease of access for the public, particularly with the ongoing train strikes at the time. Our colleagues also offered their support by marketing the campaign via social media, contributing their own coats, and donating extra storage space to facilitate the sorting, packing and distribution of the coats.
Since the campaign was launched in 2011, volunteers have collected, sorted, and distributed a total of 212,032 winter coats, which has made a real positive difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable people.
Over the years, and in partnership with WrapUp London, Human Appeal and Rotary Club International, the campaign has extended outside of London to 21 other collections in major towns and cities across the UK including Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Leicester, and Cardiff.
This year, Safestore’s involvement included:
- providing storage space across 20 stores in London, seven stores in Greater Manchester, four in Essex, two in Birmingham, Bristol, and Glasgow, and one each in Bolton, Bury, Cardiff, and Leicester
- provision of 6,230 sq ft of storage space enabling 1,697 campaign volunteers to spend 5,772 hours sorting and packing up coats for distribution
- the stores acting as drop-off points beyond the campaign period and receiving numerous donations from other businesses, community organisations and the public
- using our internal and external communications platforms to raise awareness of the WrapUp London cause and inspiring our colleagues to get involved locally
"On behalf of HandsOn London, Human Appeal and Rotary Club International, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for Safestore’s unwavering support during our coat collection campaign. The generous provision of storage space for the eleventh year in a row has been instrumental in our mission to assist those who find themselves caught in the cost-of-living crisis, and especially the most vulnerable members of our society, during the harsh winter months.
“With the donated storage space and Safestore centres acting as drop-off points, our volunteers were able to efficiently collect, store, sort, and pack the 20,300 coats donated by the public. Safestore’s assistance made it possible for us to reach a broader audience and provide essential winter clothing to those who would have otherwise faced immense hardships. We are deeply appreciative of Safestore's commitment to making a positive impact on our community and look forward to continuing this partnership in the future.
“Thank you once again for being a vital part of our ongoing work to make a difference in the lives of those who require our support the most."
Jon Meech - CEO, HandsOn London
Engaging with Stakeholders
We welcome opportunities for constructive engagement and collaborating with others as part of our commitment to making a positive impact which extends beyond our core operations. We seek to align with the values and aspirations of our stakeholders and create lasting and positive change in the communities we serve.
As a Group, we believe that our colleagues are at the heart of our business, and therefore we’re keen to create a positive impact together through working with charities in the local area and empowering our teams to be active participants in charitable activities.
We are proud to offer financial support to a range of local charities, ensuring that our customers can trust that their purchases align with their own values. We take our reputation seriously, and we know our shareholders and investors do too. We’re committed to doing the right thing, ensuring that our charitable actions are clear, ethical, and conducted with integrity.
Our relationships with our suppliers and partners are about more than just business – they're about collaboration and aligning our shared values, which include our sustainable and charitable work. We’re committed to making our collaborations stronger and more meaningful going forward. We're proud to support local causes that matter to our colleagues across the regions all over the UK – and this reflects our continued commitment to making a positive difference in the areas in which we operate.
Engaging with our stakeholders is important as it fosters a co-operative relationship that enhances our overall effectiveness and social impact. It reinforces our credibility and inspires trust and a sense of shared responsibility, leading to a more lasting positive change in society.