Barclays
Involvement in the community
As a leading player in the financial services industry, we are highly engaged in investing in the communities in which we operate. We dedicate 1% of our annual profits to Corporate Social Investment programmes focusing on entrepreneurship, education, public health - specifically the fight against HIV/AIDS, and disadvantaged people including people with disabilities.
We continually seek to build a sustainable and profitable business environment while at the same time enhancing our reputation and the well-being of the communities in which we operate.
In 2007, Barclays Bank continued to significantly contribute to and partner with the community making substantial progress in this area. We identified opportunities and partnered with reputable organisations whose objectives are in line with our focus areas. These included AMREF, Uganda Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, World Vision, Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited, Uganda National Association for the Blind, Nkonkonjeru Cheshire Providence home, SOS Children's Villages, Hospice Africa, Roses of Mbuya and others so as to deliver direct developmental benefits to the intended communities. These strategic projects enhanced our profile and will continue to boost our long-term reputation through well-planned interventions that are managed and evaluated on a continual basis.
While engaging extensively with wider stakeholders especially customers, regulators and the media in our community activities, we also enhanced and increased further our employee community involvement to 95% through the Matched Fundraising Schemes, leadership initiatives projects, and employee volunteering programmes.
In 2008 as part of Barclays Group, we are spending £1.5 million on a 3 year project in Katine Soroti district, a comprehensive approach to integrated rural development addressing the major causes of poverty under our Banking on Brighter Futures and Financial Inclusion programmes working with AMREF and Care International Uganda as implementation partners to support 25,000 through the following social impact areas:
