LONDON, July 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
An innovative new partnership between UBM Live Built Environment and industry charity CRASH will enable the global marketing and communications services business to harness the professional and commercial expertise of its employees to make a real difference to the lives of homeless people throughout the UK.
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The collaboration illustrates the shift in UBM's community focus away from "passive philanthropic activities" to more "active community engagement", demonstrated by this month's inaugural Business4Better UK event.
Set at the very heart of the construction and property industry, UBM Live Built Environment and CRASH epitomise the sector's professionalism, generosity and practicality. Both organisations bridge the gap between corporate and not for profit organisations, making the partnership an ideal choice.
Founded in 1991, CRASH channels the expertise, supply chains and the benevolence of the property and construction industry to help facilitate the development and improvement of emergency night shelters, hostels, day centres and move-on accommodation for homeless men and women.
The focus of the charity has always been to develop effective partnerships with the industry and encourage companies within the sector to use the skills they have to help those less fortunate. This structure remains as efficient and effective today as it was more than two decades ago and is one of the key reasons UBM Live Built Environment has chosen CRASH as their charity partner.
"I believe the most consistent, constructive partnerships are the ones that deliver social change in a strategic way," explains CRASH Development Manager Kate Marsh. "With CRASH there's a clear link between the charity's aims and the skills and resources of UBM. We place our emphasis on the value added support that companies are able to provide, which is pro bono professional expertise, not just financial donations.
"For UBM, the partnership with CRASH offers the opportunity for their organisation and employees to be instrumental in delivering improved accommodation to homeless people. And not just through donating money. It allows them to share their skills to provide assistance which would otherwise be beyond the charity's reach."
UBM hosted the first Business4Better UK event from 9-10 July at London's Olympia as part of its global Community Engagement Series. Business4Better UK created a unique forum for leaders of the corporate world and pioneers from within the voluntary and social enterprise sector to come together across the two days to share their experiences, debate critical issues, showcase successful partnerships and start conversations around creating meaningful collaborations.
"We are delighted that one of the outcomes from this year's Business4Better UK was the partnership between CRASH and UBM Live Built Environment. The event was designed to offer inspiration, motivation and practical help to anyone seeking to create successful partnerships and it is great to witness this already happening. We look forward to hearing of more collaborations between business and charities where the skills and expertise of the workforce can truly make a difference," added Tracy Bebbington, Event Manager, Business4Better UK.
About CRASH
CRASH is the construction and property industry's charity which focuses on improving buildings that offer help and shelter to homeless people across the UK. CRASH helps an average of 65 homelessness charities a year by providing pro-bono professional advice, donations of building materials and cash grants. CRASH encourages its industry-leading patron companies to get directly involved by matching their expertise to the needs of a particular homelessness project. This unique, practical approach means that vital renovations and developments of emergency night shelters, day centres and hostels can be carried out to a high standard. As a result, safe, sustainable and welcoming places are created where vulnerable people can seek help. http://www.crash.org.uk
About Business4Better
Business4Better UK forms part of UBM's Community Engagement Series, which includes three other events running in India, Brazil and the USA.
It is as part of UBM's commitment to being a more responsible, sustainable business that we have developed this not-for-profit series, with the belief that the best way for us the support the communities in which we do business is by doing what we do best - running events.
You can find further details of each event in the Community Engagement Series by following the links below:
UBM's Community Engagement Series 2013
Business4Better USA, http://www.business4better.org
NGO India, http://www.india-ngo.org
Business4Better UK, http://www.business4better.org.uk
ONG Brasil, http://www.ongbrasil.com.br
About UBM plc
UBM plc is a global marketing and communication services company. We inform markets and bring the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online and in print. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams which serve commercial and professional communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.
For more information, go to http://www.ubm.com ; follow us at @UBM_plc to get the latest UBM news.
Contact:
Emma Brophy
ebrophy@crash.org.uk
t: +44(0)208-742-0717
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