The event is to encourage partnerships between business and community organisations.
The first ever 'Leicester Giving Day' (LGD) takes place on November 18, 2022.
The final day of the Leicester Business Festival has been given over to LGD. It aims to encourage businesses in the city and wider county to actively engage with their local communities and charities to create partnerships through the offer of treasure, talent or time. The day will also spotlight the important work of local charities and community organisations.
In a joint statement, Leicester Giving Day's founders, Chris Shaw and Stacey Wragg from Embark CSR, said: "Leicester Giving Day is about celebrating what Leicester already does well, and encouraging more people to get involved in giving. Leicester Giving Day will shine a light on the people that go out of their way to help others, every day.
"We also want to create a day that gives people the opportunity to get involved in a fun and engaging way.
"They can get practical help to address pressing issues, such as the cost of living crisis, or their mental health, career opportunities, or the arts.
"Community Hubs will enable members of the public to get involved with a wide range of charities."
Here’s how it works
Companies are asked to sign up in support via the Leicester Giving Day website
They will commit to allocating time or resources and enable staff to plan a fundraising or gift in kind event to take place on November 18
Team up with your existing charity partner or check out the Giving Day website for events and initiatives you can easily get involved in and support
Businesses will get involved during Leicester Giving Day with their chosen activity, with the proceeds going to the charity or community group of their choice.
The Leicester Giving Day strapline is 'Treasure, Talent and Time'. Participants can raise funds, volunteer their services, or help out through gift in kind support, such as providing specialist help to charities, or offering unwanted IT or office equipment.
Leicester Giving Day includes three more exciting components.
Throughout the day, there will be four Community Hubs operating in the city. Each will showcase organisations that work across four themes. These include financial poverty, wellbeing and mental health, arts and culture, and career advancement and help to find employment.
The Hubs will be open to the public and will offer activities, talks and insight into the work of up to 20 charities. Hubs will be hosted by St Martin’s House Conference Centre, Highcross, The Zinthiya Trust, and Soft Touch Arts.
The evening of November 18 will see the first Giving Day Gala. The celebration will feature the winners of the Leicester Social Responsibility Awards and the Community Impact Programme.
The Awards aim to showcase companies and charities that have demonstrated strong partnerships during the past 12 months. And the Community Impact Programme is a new idea designed to assist voluntary sector organisations with great ideas to benefit their community.
Following an application process, four winners will be announced at the Leicester Giving Day Gala Evening. It's supported by Embark CSR to raise funds from local companies and other sources, up to a maximum of £25,000 per project.
Leicester Giving Day has already helped to create several new active partnerships.
Sandicliffe Ford’s Transit Hub will be working in support of Fareshare Midlands. Grounded Kitchen will be supporting LAMP. Mini Warriors will be supporting Menphys. Cross Productions will be offering a LinkedIn master class for charities, and Leicester Business Festival CiC has committed to getting behind the four Community Impact Programme winners.
Mike Kapur, OBE, His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire has given his backing: “Leicester Giving Day is a fantastic idea to help raise funds for local charities and local communities and to showcase the essential work which they do.
"I hope businesses in the city of Leicester and in Leicestershire will embrace it and take part, which I am sure they will. Leicester has a great reputation as a philanthropic city and Leicester Giving Day will surely help build our reputation. Good luck to all involved.”
Leicester Giving Day is sponsored by the University of Leicester and AKN Build Ltd. It is also supported by Cross Productions, Leicester City Council, Cymer Marketing and Voluntary Action Leicestershire.
