A Charitable Perspective

When we designed the Good Business Charter we wanted to ensure that any organisation that cared about responsible business was in a position to sign up.  We recognise the hugely important role that charities play in our society and the fact that donors care not just about the final beneficiaries of a charity but about the way that charity treats its employees, its customers and its suppliers.  It also matters that every charity considers its environmental impact and looks to reduce it.

So, we designed a GBC for Charities and are delighted to champion those charities who have chosen to get involved.  Charities that are fighting for those in UK poverty, for example, can champion a Charter that prioritises the real living wage and secure work.  Charities that care for people in the developing world welcome a Charter that includes ethical sourcing as a key component.

Who is on board?

Esteemed charities Amnesty International and Oxfam have achieved GBC accreditation for their business practices as have Trussell Trust and Christians Against Poverty, both charities who are at the forefront of responding to people in financial difficulty in our nation at this time.

Our wonderful partners, New Economics Foundation and the Living Wage Foundation are also GBC members.  This is what the charities themselves have to say about why they got involved:

Amnesty International

“Amnesty International welcomes the opportunity to become part of an initiative that sends strong signals to companies that ethical business is moving out of its niche to become mainstream. Each of the ten components of the Charter has significant impacts on society, but the Charter as a whole promises to be much more than a sum of its parts. At a time when trust in business is low, it is vital that companies be encouraged and incentivised to adhere to such standards. We look forward to the GBC generating considerable momentum to help bring about greater levels of accountability of business for their impacts on human rights and the environment.”

Kate Allen, Director, Amnesty International UK

Oxfam

“Oxfam is delighted to be one of first charities to become accredited by the Good Business Charter which helps show our commitment to our employees, the environment and those working in our supply chains. We work hard to ensure that Oxfam’s activities are aligned to our vision for a just world without poverty, for example we were co-founders of the Ethical Trade Initiative in 1998 and have campaigned for a living wage around the world. We applaud the Good Business Charter for bringing together a range of existing accreditations under a single standard and encourage all businesses and charities to join.”

Sophie Brill, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Oxfam GB

New Economics Foundation

“The New Economics Foundation is committed to an economy that puts people and the planet first. We aim to practice what we preach so I am proud that we have been accredited by the Good Business Charter. The Charter provides an essential role in promoting responsible and accountable business. At NEF we are determined that the values we campaign for as a charity are reflected in our internal culture and working practices, and the Charter will help to guide us in fulfilling this mission.”

Miatta Fahnbulleh, CEO, New Economics Foundation

Citizens UK/Living Wage Foundation

“The Living Wage Foundation is the organisation at the heart of an independent movement of businesses and people who believe that a hard day’s work should mean a fair day’s pay. Through the Living Wage Employer mark, we recognise and celebrate employers who choose to voluntarily pay a real Living Wage to all their staff, including outsourced workers. Thousands of UK businesses already recognise the responsible business behaviour begins with paying staff a wage that covers the cost of living, and this number is growing. That’s why we are delighted to be accredited with the Good Business Charter, which includes Living Wage accreditation as a core component.”

Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation

Christians Against Poverty

“We’re delighted to be amongst the first charities to sign up to the Good Business Charter.  When organisations choose to build these ten components into their culture, it benefits everyone.  As winner of the Sunday Times Best Charity to work for on three occasions, we’ve already been recognised for our care for our employees.  Now, we welcome this clear and accessible accreditation to show responsible and ethical practice towards all stakeholders including future generations through our concern for the environment.

As a charity that helps support people in debt, we believe that if more businesses commit to paying their staff well and having a fair approach to zero hours contracts, we can make real progress in tackling UK poverty.  We’re excited to get behind this initiative at a time when businesses need to rebuild for a better future.”

Dr John Kirkby CBE, Founder of Christians Against Poverty

The Trussell Trust

“The Trussell Trust supports a network of more than 1,200 food bank centres across the UK. Together, we provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty and campaign for change to end the need for food banks.  We firmly believe in the responsible business practices bought together in the Good Business Charter, such as paying a real Living Wage, and understand first-hand the positive lasting impact standards such as these can have on communities. This is a standard that should not just be reserved for big businesses, but for a wide range of organisations, including charities such as us. We are therefore proud to be joining many other organisations which recognise the need for change and are committed to playing their part. Practices such as these are vital to uphold if we are to end poverty and the need for food banks going forward.”

Emma Revie, Chief Executive of the Trussell Trust