Working with primary school children to understand where their food comes from

…known for short as CSR, is the emerging measure of how well businesses connect themselves into bettering the world around them, the lives of their stakeholders, and the way in which they manage their business internally.

Probably every business subscribes to a lesser or a greater degree- from shopkeepers who allow charity boxes on their counters to social enterprises who seek to create meaningful employment for some of society’s most challenged members.

In the shrinking global village, where today’s natural disaster on the other side of the world is shared in our living rooms as it happens, through TV, the radio and internet, the global market has emerged. People are increasingly aware of what services and products they buy and from whom, and why.

Many major corporations have realised that commercial decisions are influenced by the reputation of the suppliers.

At Graham Bell Associates we have always believed in some basic standards and welcome the growth in popularity of CSR. We have engaged with many other individuals and businesses helping them do the same. We are aware we interact with:

Making the case for renewable energy as part of our sustainable future

• The people who work for us
• Our suppliers
• Our customers
• The environment around us
• The community we serve
• Other businesses who are affected by our outputs
• The media
• Politicians
• Others near and far whom we can assist in some way
• People who assist us

That’s a lot to think about. We have some basics to how we deal with that.

• Fair trade- being decent and honest in our transactions
• Managing employees in a sensitive and empowering way
• Recognising the skills and talents of our contractors fairly
• Thinking of new products and services which are appropriate to right livelihood
• Practicing energy efficiency
• Being conscious of our environmental impact
• Being economical about what we take and generous about what we share

Promoting local culture and a healthy environment

• Promoting our location and community
• Promoting the business community in which we serve
• Sharing skills, support and expertise with younger people
• Recognising and supporting those with particular needs
• Supporting processes in management, politics and the media which promote these ideals

These are ideals, so no-one pretends that we (or anyone else) gets everything right all the time. So we are also committed to listening to what our stakeholders feel. In the event of mis-performance we look to rectify matters quickly. We aim to pay all our bills on time, and expect customers to do the same.

In addition we make charitable donations, either financially or in kind. Currently we are supporting Friends of African Nursing, (fundraising and donations), Business Mentoring Scotland, (Volunteer Time), The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (Volunteer Time), Salvation Army, (Donations), Crisis at Christmas (Donations), JCI Edinburgh (Volunteer time). In the past we have support Cyrenians and the Lifeboat Service, Permaculture Association UK and may well do again. We have created opportunities for hundreds of individuals to find their way back into work including returning mothers, young unemployed people, people with special needs, ex-offenders and young graduate interns.

Promoting locally growing and fruit and vegetables for eating fresh

We’d welcome postings here from anyone who has positive examples of how CSR can be enacted. How can businesses stand out as benefitting their communities? We’ve heard so many tales of ‘fat-cats’ during the recent recession- what about the other side of the picture which is the good deeds the majority of people do in the workplace? We can’t have a charitable approach without having surplus to share (and that can be warmth, friendship knowledge and contacts, not just money). Wealth creation sits at the heart of social justice. Share your insights here.

Transition Towns meeting at Hawick

We are having a second open day for 2010 on Saturday September 18^th 11am-4pm here in the Scottish Borders. There is no charge for entry, but we welcome donations. These are in aid, once again, of Friends of African Nursing. We provide some lunch without charge and invite visitors to bring food to share. We also sell books on the day, along with preserves, plants and anything out the garden produce wise that’s surplus! In this case 50% goes to the charity and 50% is returned to producing more (by covering costs).

Last Open Day was at the peak of the soft fruit season. This one will be peak of the top fruit season. Still lots of practical learning opportunities, and always jobs to be done. Children welcome. No dogs in the garden.

This forest garden is nearly twenty years old since it was planted on a quarter acre of rather uninteresting weeds. Much has changed.

Invitation is by RSVP so we have a good idea of numbers. If you respond we will e-mail you directions. About fifty people came last time (from as far as four hours drive away). Sometimes it’s possible to arrange lift shares for people. It’s also helpful if three or four people can offer to help on the day.

Many thanks

Graham

Friends of African Nursing (FoAN) was started as an organisation by two individuals, Lesley Fudge and Kate Woodhead, who had family contacts in Africa and due to their professional nursing backgrounds, had taken an interest in the health systems in African countries which they had visited whilst on holiday.  I have had no hand in their achievements and list it here because co-founder Kate Woodhead is my sister-in-law and I have immense respect for the achievements of FoAN.  Having done a very small amount of development work in West Africa myself I am full of wonder for their endeavour, spirit and commitment in delivering this programme.  What I can tell you from my short experience is that the challenges of addressing (especially rural) ill-health and its prime cause, poverty, in sub-Saharan Africa are unimaginable, until you go there.

It was apparent to both Kate and Lesley separately, that the privilege of the healthcare environment in which they both worked in the UK – which offered continuing education, ready access to journals, speciality (perioperative) education and a professional association (in which they were closely involved, at home) as a ready made network…. was indeed a huge privilege which should be shared.

So they raised some funds, used whatever contacts they could make, find or encourage and the first course in Uganda became a reality! Thanks to all those early supporters, they are on the road to many more travels and sharing experiences and knowledge with their African Nursing colleagues albeit on a very small scale.

The organisation continues to grow and thanks to continuing financial support and encouragement particularly from Denis Robson from Johnson and Johnson Professional Export, from these small beginnings FoAN gained charity status in 2006.

Previous Scottish Executive First Minister Jack McConnel made a significant target of Malawi as an aid centre for Scotland to share resources (there are many historical ties) and often the media have talked about this decision as if it is wayward and speak of ‘missing millions’ i.e. where did all the money go?  FoAN has been empowered by that Scottish aid budget (and many other donors) and is a clear example of how willing and professionally run and resourced teams can deliver expert targeted projects with the minimum of administrative cost (and I do mean minimum!) which build other people’s capacity for health, wealth and happiness in a self-reliant way.  We need to celebrate successes in this difficult environment.

FoAN are building their capacity, and are connected into a world-wide network for publicity and further support (as I write Kate is addressing a conference in Canada).  I urge you to consider adding your voice and support to the cause.

Update 31.3.09

Now we are Seven !

On 9th May 2009 we are celebrating the fact that it is seven years since FoAN was conceived by Lesley Fudge and Kate Woodhead.

Over this time FoAN has visited more than 7 countries in Africa. FoAN has reached out to over 700 nurses either through training sessions or via visits to their hospitals.

Nurses in Africa – especially those in operating theatres -  are exposed daily to blood and therefore blood-borne diseases such as HIV and AIDS.

• They have very limited equipment

• They re-use as much as possible including all of the swabs used for mopping up blood from inside a wound

• They have no means of protecting themselves from exposure to blood from patients, particularly eye-splashes

Much of what we use in the operating theatre in the UK is disposable. UK staff wear eye protection and two pairs of surgical gloves if dealing with a high risk patient. In much of Africa, these are undreamt of luxuries. They use chlorine to decontaminate instruments which damages the metal, burns holes in linen and hence most of what they use is not sterile. The chances are high that HIV and AIDS are passed from one patient to another and certainly the nurses are put at considerable risk.

FoAN seeks to help African theatre nurses achieve the best possible basic practice whilst avoiding any increase in costs to the hospitals. FoAN also seeks to train the next generation of trainers. FoAN backs this up by shipping books and equipment to hospitals in Africa.

We need your help to continue this essential work

FoAN is actively seeking birthday presents:

• Send us a cheque (payable to Friends of African Nursing) for a multiple of £77

• Buy some of our beautiful cards painted by Lesley Fudge – use them yourself or sell them through work or your local contacts – see the website for details

• Buy colourful HIV awareness brooches made by Masai women in Kenya – again, see the website. Sell them on or give them to friends and family.

• Run or take part in a sponsored event. Hold a car boot/garage/plant/cake sale.

• Become a Friend of FoAN – or Phone a Friend if you already are (Thank you)

• Send us surplus equipment, books, supplies.

We think we are worth £7,777 of presents

Please help us to have a Happy Birthday

Contact  jackie.younger@ntlworld for further information and/or send donations to Friends of African Nursing, c/o Jackie Younger, 5 London Street, Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Cambs PE29 2HU

Contact: Friends of African Nursing

December 2007:  Have given some time recently to help the Cyrenians in Edinburgh develop their public profile, and build the capacity to do that amongst their team.  Hope the input was appreciated and yields results.  I’ve helped in projects for the homeless before, doing Crisis at Christmas in the early eighties and always assist the Salvation Army when I can.

I think it’s a travesty that anyone is homeless in this day and age and an indictment of a supposedly civilised society.  What I like about the Cyrenians is the work they do to deal with the causes of homelessness.  Make no mistake, official figures vastly under-estimate the scale of the problem – especially amongst young people – there’s an unknown number of younger people who are ’staying with friends’ or want to move out their parents’ home but don’t have the means.

The multi-disciplinary approach of the Cyrenians team is designed to catch all and to deal with the underlying issues.   Yep, these guys really can make a difference.  Here’s some extracts from what they say about themselves.

Homelessness can and does happen to anyone. It is the most vulnerable, however, who are most at risk – young people coming out of care, those with mental health difficulties, asylum seekers and refugees and those affected by  family breakdowns.

What we do
We create opportunities that weren’t there before and we provide practical help and the sort of support that enables people to help themselves. In this way we empower those who are excluded to take control of their lives and to fulfil their potential with outcomes such as better housing, employability, health and well-being.

Update: November 2008
I’m de;ighted to hear the effectts of the training have been beneficial and that some advances have been made in public awareness.  Cyrenians have brought out a great Christmas present – Christmas Hampers put together with produce from the Farm.  Another excellent piece of joined up thinking!  Have offered to help further, so we’ll see what transpires…