Our Community and Volunteering Work
At JMW, we understand the profound impact that corporate social responsibility (CSR) volunteering initiatives can have on both our local communities and our organisation. Through our CSR volunteering strategy (known as Aspire), we not only strengthen our ties within the community but also enrich our culture and enhance employee engagement. Our commitment to community engagement and volunteering is a cornerstone of our CSR strategy and is designed to produce positive outcomes for the people and community organisations we support.
Volunteering and community engagement offer numerous benefits. They provide our employees with opportunities for professional development, build new skills, raise awareness of social issues and contribute to improved wellbeing. These activities are integral to our mission of being a socially responsible business, and they reflect the wider environmental, social and governance principles that guide our CSR initiatives.
Through our commitment to community engagement and volunteering, JMW is dedicated to making a lasting impact, and embracing the ethical responsibility we have as a business and as an employer.
Our Volunteering Activities
Volunteering forms a pivotal part of JMW's CSR activities. We encourage employees to actively give back to the local community by offering two days of paid leave each year for charitable and voluntary work. This helps to engage employees with the communities they serve, and allows our team to make a substantial difference through meaningful personal interactions.
The scope of our volunteering and community engagement initiatives goes beyond individual contributions. JMW's partners and employees are encouraged to take on significant roles such as school governorships, trusteeships, non-executive directorships, and other voluntary positions within charities and community projects. These roles enable our team members to leverage their professional skills and expertise in service of the community, which magnifies the positive impact of their contributions.
Furthermore, our commitment to fostering the next generation of professionals is evident through our support for local education. We collaborate with schools, colleges and universities to offer placements that provide students with valuable work experience. These opportunities not only help students understand the professional environment, but also embed them within the culture of giving back to the community from an early stage.
Additionally, in certain circumstances we are able to provide pro bono legal advice to charitable organisations. This helps these organisations navigate the legal system, and further strengthens the ability of our community support system to meaningfully benefit society.
By working on as wide a variety of excellent community projects as possible in our volunteer opportunities, JMW aims to maximise the positive social impact for local charities and across the wider community. These extensive volunteering initiatives not only provide many benefits for the recipients, but also enrich the lives of our volunteers, creating a cycle of positive change and community development.
Our Volunteering Work
We are deeply committed to enriching our communities through dedicated volunteering efforts. Over the years, JMW has been involved in a host of projects that support our CSR objectives and provide our workforce with rewarding opportunities to make a difference.
Below, you can discover the volunteering activities our team has proudly participated in, and the organisations we have supported:
Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary
Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Ramsbottom, Lancashire, cares for animals that are unlikely to be rehomed due to age or illness and provides sanctuary for them for the rest of their lives. JMW’s team members have provided volunteer support to the sanctuary’s staff, which aids their valuable work, while also providing amazing team-building opportunities for our colleagues.
Foundation 92
Foundation 92 is a Salford-based charity that works to support the community of Salford and the wider Greater Manchester area through sport, education and community projects. A number of JMW team members have volunteered with Foundation 92 and helped it organise fundraising events and activities such as dementia walking sports sessions.
Manchester Youth Zone
Located in Harpurhey, the Manchester Youth Zone is a space for young people aged 8-19 to socialise and take part in activities that broaden their horizons and provide new skills. JMW volunteers regularly support the sessions organised by the centre, and we have donated items ranging from Easter eggs and Christmas presents to recycled laptops.
Salford Foundation
The Salford Foundation provides opportunities for young people and adults to create better futures. We support their work by organising visits for high school students to our JMW offices to give them experience of a professional environment. We have also had teams of volunteers visit local schools to work with small groups of children on activities such as designing artwork for a new business and playing educational games about credit and debt.
Sunnyside Rural Trust
Sunnyside Rural Trust supports people with learning disabilities through horticultural projects and skills-based activities. Teams from our London office volunteer on site, taking part in practical work that contributes to the trust’s community programmes and environmental projects.
Walworth Golden Oldies
Walworth Golden Oldies is a dementia support centre in London that provides companionship, activities and community for older people living with dementia. Volunteers from JMW’s London office regularly support the centre’s sessions, and we make donations to assist with their work.
Find Out More
If you would like to explore our wider CSR commitments, including our environmental conservation initiatives and charity partnerships, you can visit our main Corporate Social Responsibility page, and learn more about the values and activities that guide our work.
Visit our About Us page to learn more about JMW and our culture. For details of our professional recognition, you can also view our Awards, Accreditations and Certifications page.