Community

Support community activities to improve quality of life.

By engaging with and investing in local communities, businesses can help to build strong communities and foster a sense of belonging. Businesses often pick one or two issues or organisations that affect the lives of their employees. The community is then in turn better able to support local businesses as customers, neighbours and employees.

Communities of particular importance in Plymouth include:

Armed Forces and their families
People who are, or have been in care or engaged with other targeted youth services
People living in the city’s more deprived communities
Young people
Older workers

19% of Plymothians participate in local groups and activities

58% of Plymothians feel they belong to their local area

17.3% gap in educational attainment between children in Plymouth’s deprived communities and the national average

What you can do

Regularly engage with the local community in ways that improve opportunities and employability, for example, through formal volunteering or offering pro bono support, or use of land or premises.

Provide pro-bono support to voluntary organisations so that they have a digital presence, particularly on Plymouth Online Directory

Volunteer – register on Our Plymouth

Support schools, youth groups etc. with reading, workplace visits, interview skills and placements.

Donate to local projects through Crowdfund Plymouth.

Sign the Armed Forces Covenant.

How we'll support businesses

Support for community activity in Plymouth is strong with the Plymouth Octopus Project supporting the voluntary sector and Plymouth Social Enterprise Network supporting social enterprises (who trade for social purpose).

Plymouth Online Directory enables Plymothians to find information and engage with organisations in areas such as food aid, wellbeing, housing, training.

Our Plymouth is a volunteering platform where individuals and businesses can register their availability for volunteering and find out about volunteering opportunities.

Crowdfund Plymouth is set up to support community groups, start-up businesses, charities and social enterprises across the city with an extra “Climate Emergency Bonus” if a project helps address climate change. Individuals and businesses can find out about local projects that are seeking support and donate to their fundraising.

How to engage with community activities in Plymouth

Provide Pro-bono Support through Plymouth Online Directory

Measure your progress

Donations or in-kind contributions to local community projects (£ & materials).

No hours volunteering time provided to support local community draw up their own charter or plan.

Support provided to help local community draw up their own Community Charter or Stakeholder Plan.

Local school and college visits e.g. delivering careers talks, curriculum support, literacy support, safety talks (No. hours, includes preparation time).