Inspiring our communities: OTD releases annual report

When we first launched our inspiring communities strategy a little over two years ago, our vision was to bring together all aspects of our community giving, writes OTD’s head of operations, Rebecca Farnworth.

We have since established long-term partnerships with four incredible Birmingham-based charities, maximising the difference we can make to them and the disadvantaged communities they serve. 

In 2022 our support went further still and you can view the full report here.

We are incredibly proud to have delivered our first ‘lunch, learn and network’ event, creating a dynamic and engaging forum for our charities – Birmingham Children’s Trust, Edward’s Trust, First Class Foundation and SIFA Fireside.

Hosted at our own training suite, it brought the collective excellence of our charities together in one space, allowing them to share fundraising ideas, discuss operational challenges and learn from each other’s experiences. It is the first step to forging a charitable ecosystem that has the potential to deliver significant mutual benefits. 

The event has also enabled us to place an even greater focus on where our regular support can make the most impact.

Collectively we donated £20,000 to our charitable partners last year but we also tailored our support to their very specific needs, whether through world-class training, volunteering or mentoring.

As a socially conscious business we continue to enthusiastically support several other charities and good causes wherever possible too.

Our sponsorship of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Awards, and involvement in Vantage’s Female Founders series for aspiring business women continues our unwavering commitment to promoting equality and diversity.

Further afield, we have donated to a famine relief appeal following the tragic earthquake in Syria and Turkey. 

And we also made our own very personal contribution to helping a married couple who have fled their home in Ukraine to find safety for their four young children. Working with one of our global business coaches in Poland, we raised the funds to purchase a vehicle that is already providing the means to travel to work, allowing Svietlana and Wowa to keep their family together.

It’s a truly heartwarming example of how relatively little can make a lasting, inspiring change.

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