SMT set the CSR Committee a challenge - to help local charities that need it the most by donating £100,000 - an exceptional budget created by SMT amid the pandemic.
This was an interesting and yet surprisingly difficult challenge. Each charity we spoke to needed our help. Each one shared their story of loss and sorrow as well as hope. Each one left us with a lump in our throat as well as a renewed sense of gratitude for the lives we are able to live, even during lockdown.
Some of the worst affected charities were the ones that were the hardest to reach – because they were overwhelmed by the demand for their services.
We needed to start somewhere and therefore chose to focus on organisations supporting:
- The NHS
- Mental health
- Homeless & low-income individuals and families struggling to afford to eat
- The elderly
- The poorly and those at end-of-life
- People affected by domestic abuse
In addition to the £100,000, a budget of £30,000 was created to support charities in South Africa where we have a community of employees who work for WNS supporting TGP operations. We relied heavily on the local knowledge of our South African colleagues to help steer us and make contributions to the charities that need it the most.
Thanks to our generous SMT for creating this exceptional budget that’s allowed us to make a positive difference to the communities we operate in, and thanks to our brilliant CSR Committee for undertaking this humbling process with both professionalism and compassion.
A special thanks to Marion Driscoll who has been a fundamental part of TGP’s community and charitable endeavours over the years, from championing and managing Total’s Green School Awards to encouraging us to sign up to community initiatives that have seen us cleaning, painting and creating outdoor fences in sub-zero temperatures. Thank you so much for organising us, coordinating the numerous inbound requests, writing to charities and employees and ensuring that every charity gets the donations we’ve committed. You leave a huge gap in TGP including on the CSR Committee.
We will miss you and we wish you all the very best in your retirement ♥
The CSR Committee is made up of:
- Liz Gregson - SMT Lead
- Marion Driscoll - Specialist Coordinator
- Darren Holman & Meena Sparkes-Mahi - Special Projects.
- Sanjeev Kothari, Natalie Barson, April Spaulding, Jamie Leigh Kirtley, Sonia Cifaldi, Monia Tempesta, Jacqui Fowler - Local representatives
- Liv Gomez - Compliance
- Sarah Povey – Chair