Sacha Vaughan from Macquarie's London office participating in a CoRe programme.
11 March 2019
Since 2009 over 250 volunteers have spent over 10,000 hours helping over 60 charities tackle the strategic goals they were grappling with. This is part of a Community Resourcing programme (commonly known as CoRe), which is a partnership between Macquarie Group, law firm Slaughter and May, and Islington Giving, a local non-profit which awards grants to voluntary organisations providing support and activities to Islington residents.
“At Macquarie, we truly believe that working collaboratively is key to creating lasting impact and we look forward to continuing our partnership and supporting our local community in Islington,” says David Fass, CEO, Macquarie Group, EMEA.
“Each CoRe project spans over a six-month period with staff from Macquarie and Slaughter and May working closely with one non-profit organisation during that time,” explains Rachel Engel, Regional Head, Macquarie Group Foundation, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
“What I really like about the CoRe programme, over other programmes I’ve been involved with, is that you get to work with a local non-profit over a much longer period of time,” says George Bullock, from Macquarie London office, who has been involved in CoRe for the past three years. “This allows volunteers to gain a deep understanding of the challenges their partner non-profit faces and the opportunities they’re pursuing, which is needed if you’re to make a real impact.”
“I’ve had the opportunity to gain insights into a wide-range of non-profits and collaborate closely with a variety of people who I would not usually have the chance to meet.”
“The highlight for me is when I get to see the work the non-profit organisations do on the ground, meeting the people they help and witnessing the positive impact they have on our local community. It’s one thing to read about the work of non-profits, it’s another to experience it first-hand.”
Like George, feedback from CoRe volunteers in 2018 has been overwhelming positive, with 95 per cent of participants feeling that they had made a positive impact on a charity and the broader community and 81 per cent of participants found they had learnt or developed new skills. Participants noted significant improvements in problem solving and adapting, with the most recognisable improvement being in collaboration and relationship building.
Charities involved in the 2018 programme also benefit, saying that the CoRe programme had improved their staff and volunteers’ capabilities, their capacity to deliver to their clients and their ability think strategically about future sustainability.
Rachael Box, the Founder of London Village Network, which aims to inspire local young people by providing positive role models, was full of praise for the Macquarie and Slaughter and May team she worked in 2018.
“The Macquarie team has been amazing. The CoRe team went over and beyond to help prepare the LVN business strategy which means we are now ready to upscale and widen our reach.”
With benefits to staff, local non-profit organisations and the communities they serve so evident, Macquarie is committed to the CoRe programme in the long term, with the next cohort kicking off in March 2019.
You can read the full 2018 CoRe Impact Report here.
Read the full CoRE 2019 impact report here.
