Working with communities toolbox

Community investments are donations, sponsorships and/or other contributions that seek to build community capacity and create real social impact, usually working with a charitable organisation.

A community organisation has a charitable purpose but is not necessarily a registered charity. Community organisations can include schools, universities, community projects or government departments which are not always charities, but which often have a charitable purpose – for example, health and education.

A monetary donation or contribution is the gross monetary amount that Serco pays in support of a community, charity organisation or other project. Donations can also be in the form of gifts (including hospitality, accommodation or premises or other assets) and employee and management time.

For example, Serco may offer a monetary contribution to a charity event, pay for the cost of advertising the event or commit other non-cash resources such as services, products, equipment or premises.

Funds, assets or resources that are donated by colleagues and colleagues to a community, charity organisation or other project are NOT considered donations and/or contributions made by Serco.

Sponsorship can be defined as a business relationship of mutual benefit that involves a company paying a fee or making payment in kind – for example with resources or services - in return for an association with a third party or charitable organisation. 

Sponsorship is different from advertising as it can’t communicate specific attributes of a product or service. 

Sponsorship activities could include sponsoring publications, events and costs – for example, paying for football strips for schools or local youth organisations.

At Serco, sponsorship of a charity or community organisation should be recorded in ASSURE under community investment. If you need assistance with this, reach out to your divisional Ethics and compliance lead.

This does NOT apply to sponsorship made independently by employees who are not using Serco funds or resources - except where there is a connection to Serco business. For example, employees from a potential supplier should not sponsor Serco employees during the bidding process.

A mutually beneficial collaboration between Serco (including wholly owned subsidiaries and majority-owned operations) and a charitable organisation, where a corporate campaign is run in conjunction with a charity or community organisation that will bring financial benefit to the company. This should NOT be recorded as Community Investment.

A giving is legitimate when there is nothing to suggest an expectation in return for improper performance, undue advantage, influence or other corrupt intent.

Funds paid by an organisation (e.g. Serco) that are set to be paid in equal amounts to the funds raised by employees for a charitable organisation.

Includes any:

• officer or employee of a government entity or public international organization, or any department or agency of such an entity or organisation;

• officer or employee of a government-owned or controlled company (including a company partially owned by the government);

• political party or political party official;

• candidate for political office/party;

• member of a royal family; and

• anyone acting in an official capacity on behalf of any of the foregoing (whether paid or unpaid).

This is about a company giving prize money or other prizes like goods or services or in-kind services, usually in return for association with a charitable organisation or other third party.

Funds raised independently of Serco by colleagues, friends, and family for a charitable organisation.