Business In The Community works with its member companies to raise business awareness of community issues, share information and expertise, promote partnerships between the public, private and voluntary sectors and match business resources with community needs.

Railtrack is committed to sponsoring Business in the Community over a three year period. Funding will go towards support of BITC leadership teams and assistance for a number of regional projects. Examples include refurbishing a barge to give disabled people canal holidays and support for events which also benefit or involve people with learning difficulties or those who are socially disabled or disadvantaged.

"I am thrilled Railtrack has become a member of Business In The Community and we look forward to working with them over the coming years on economic and social regeneration projects," said Julia Cleverdon, Chief Executive, Business In The Community.

Thousands of companies use some of their people, skills, products, equipment, premises and cash to support communities in areas like job creation, urban regeneration, education and environmental improvements. Business in the Community's mission is to support the economic and social regeneration of communities by raising the quality and extent of business involvement.

Business In The Community argues that, because successful companies depend on healthy communities, well planned and professionally executed business involvement is good for society and good for business.

Business In The Community has

o 400 member companies - including 75 of the FTSE 100
o 200 staff (including 50 secondees)
o 10 regional offices
o Board and Chairman's Committee of business, public and voluntary sector leaders

Business In The Community's key programmes include:

o Seeing is Believing - has taken more than 700 business leaders into some of the UK's most deprived communities to look at issues like unemployment, crime, underachievement and homelessness, and then consider how their companies can take action.
o Cause Related Marketing - An initiative through which a company with an image, product or service to market builds a relationship or partnership with a 'cause' or a number of 'causes' for mutual benefit.
o Education - runs the Aim High campaign to encourage companies to work with schools and colleges to raise young people's aspirations and achievements..
o Economic Regeneration - promotes private sector involvement with a range of economic regeneration initiatives including support for the growth of small businesses and community enterprises.
o Employees in the Community - promotes employee support for community projects as volunteers.

Railnews Archive ::: 1997-07-09 RTK-006