Corporate Challenge
Giving Sir Gâr started as a Welsh Assembly initiative to encourage businesses to develop links with their local communities, to support voluntary groups and charities and to invest in their communities. The initiative recognises the significant corporation tax allowances and positive PR opportunities available to companies that give donations, goods, services or staff to the voluntary sector. This includes charities and not-for-profit organisations within Carmarthenshire.
Why is Carmarthenshire so special?
Carmarthenshire was the first county in Wales to develop such a programme with Welsh Assembly backing. A pilot project has recently begun in North Wales. These pilot programmes will develop examples of good ‘corporate social responsibility’ projects to form a model of best practice which can then be rolled out across the Principality in the future. Giving Sir Gâr is administered by Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services (CAVS) which has received funding to administer, to actively promote and provide support for companies wishing to engage in this innovative programme.
Giving Sir Gâr aims to increase business involvement in three specific areas:
- payroll-giving schemes enabling employees to contribute in a tax-efficient way to local and national charities and voluntary groups.
- Corporate support for employee volunteering thus benefitting local groups and generating good publicity for the company.
- support for voluntary and community groups through such giving initiatives as ‘charity of the year’ and the donation of surplus goods, facilities and services.
