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Social investment - PLMR and the Springfield Community Flat project
By Gordon Carson, Third Sector, 6 July 2010
Members of staff volunteer to do work, such as gardening, on the Springfield estate in Lambeth
For the company that has implemented the most effective social investment initiative
FINALISTS
- nfpSynergy
- Permira
Social investment is more than corporate responsibility box-ticking for PLMR, a lobbying and media relations company - it results from a lifelong attachment to the south London borough of Lambeth. Kevin Craig, PLMR's managing director, grew up in the borough on the Springfield housing estate, and when he set up his own company, which is based in Lambeth, he wanted to give something back to his community. This personal connection helped PLMR to triumph in the Social Investment category over the private equity firm Permira and nfpSynergy, a research consultancy for the not-for-profit sector.
Since PLMR was founded in 2006, the firm has committed 5 per cent of its net profit to the Springfield Community Flat project, which is located on an estate that is home to many people from disadvantaged backgrounds and ethnic minorities, and to vulnerable older people. So far, the firm has given almost £15,000, with £7,500 in 2008/09 alone.
The project provides activities for residents, including a weekly Armchair Aerobics session for older people, Bums and Tums exercise classes for young mothers and after-school activities such as Street Dance. It also runs an adventure playground, youth club and creche.
PLMR's involvement is not merely financial. Each member of staff volunteers twice a year to work on the estate, collecting rubbish, cleaning, gardening and carrying out general maintenance.
Craig's support for the Springfield Community Flat dates back to his time as a Lambeth councillor from 1997 to 2006, says Sue Peake, who runs the project. "Kevin was very helpful because he knew what the problems were on the estate and recognised what we were doing," she says. "Whereas most councillors didn't get it at all, he definitely did."
Peake highlights Craig's backing for the project's plans to develop the estate's adventure playground when other councillors were reluctant to help. She also recalls how he teamed up with Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall, to stage a reception in Parliament for project staff and young people from Lambeth.
The project has continued to benefit from this type of support since Craig launched PLMR in 2006, says Peake. "It really is so important and so rare to have someone like Kevin and his company contributing," she adds. "He knows how important this is to Lambeth. We can be more flexible than the local authority can."
Craig says his company is not seeking any gains from its activity other than making a difference to the community. He also hopes that a long-term commitment to the Springfield Community Flat will enable the project to grow in line with his company's planned expansion.
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