PwC in the Community - policy

In order to direct our available resources in a meaningful and effective way, and to deal fairly with all the deserving calls on our funds and resources, we focus our efforts on promoting the social inclusion of young people in the communities in which we have a presence through creative and active partnerships. These focus on education, employability and the environment, specifically concentrating on raising educational achievement, developing employability skills and encouraging enterprise and improving the environment in our local communities.  We also support the voluntary organisations with which our people are actively involved outside of work.

Our PwC in the Community programme provides a combination of cash, staff time and other in-kind support, to community organisations within our focus areas. Our approach is to bring together these three strands into a series of integrated projects.

Examples of the type of projects in which we are involved are described in the firm's Annual Report under Sustainability and communities.

Our community funding is specifically targeted in the following areas, with preference given to:

• organisations working with the communities in the immediate vicinity of our offices around the UK.  In London, we currently support projects in the boroughs of Southwark and Westminster
• programmes which provide opportunities for our staff to share their skills and expertise
• community organisations and schools, rather than individuals
• revenue rather than capital funding

Support for our people

Our PwC in the Community programme supports our volunteers working in partnership with community organisations, helping people across the spectrum of society.  The time they give ranges from one-off team building challenges to regular, consistent volunteering, usually on a weekly basis. The firm allows our volunteers time off to undertake these activities.

During FY09, 4,600 of our staff volunteered contributing 41,300 working hours to our local communities.  Find out more about the "PwC in the Community" programme.

Outside working hours, many of our people choose to contribute their free time to charities and voluntary organisations of their own choice and in their own communities.  We value the sustained commitment, time and energy that this involves and to recognise and reward this effort, the firm offers the following: 

• Matched Giving Programme

PwC people who actively raise funds for charities/voluntary organisations can apply to the firm for matched funding. The firm matches the first £250 raised per PwC person per year. We also support groups and teams who fundraise.

• Volunteering Awards Scheme

PwC volunteers who commit more than 20 hours to a charity/community group per year, and have been doing so for more than six months, can apply for a volunteering award.

• Payroll Giving Scheme

The firm operates the Give As You Earn scheme through the Charities Aid Foundation and on behalf of staff covers all associated administration costs.

If you wish to contact the Community Affairs team, please send an email.