In many places our operations are the largest employer in the region. If we are to continue to recruit from our local communities we must maintain our reputation as a responsible employer. We therefore seek to engage with the communities around our sites and operations and to provide opportunities for employees to assist with the local initiatives and support local charities that are important to them.
We have Group-wide guidelines in place setting out our approach to charitable donations, our commitment to the communities in which we operate and the broader interests of our customers. As well as ensuring financial donations are appropriately targeted, they also encourage active engagement with the communities in which we operate through local community support programmes.
In South Africa, local management has identified three specific areas of support which will benefit the local communities as well as being key areas of concern for the country. These are education, HIV prevention and training and HIV orphan support.
In support of our major customer we have continued to provide corporate sponsorship for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA), the forces charity providing support to service families in times of need. Six years ago Babcock was one of the ‘founding friends’ that helped start a fundraising initiative that now has over 35 companies involved.
Across the Group we have provided support to a number of charitable causes and during 2009 we donated £129,000 (2008: £105,000)