Flex provides an opportunity for interested parties (schools, government, private sector), to reach and engage with students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our students usually come from some of the most deprived boroughs in the UK.

Most large organisations operate community involvement programmes as part of their strategy of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Research shows that these programmes bring benefits to employees, local communities, shareholders and society. There is a clear connection between the health and profitability of a company and the general well-being of the community in which it does business. Organisations need local goodwill as a ‘licence to operate’; their active involvement as part of the local community helps to intergrate and align their needs with those of other community members. Where local communities have a high representation of ethnic minorities, it makes good business sense to specifically take these into account in an organisation’s community involvement activities.

Get involved:

As a large organization, small orghanization, or as an individual you can:

• Host a visit/event
• Give a talk to a group of young people
• Sponsor an event or activity
• Donate equipment or other resources
• Provide a work placement

Top Tip

Create a positive environment in which diverse employees can meet and learn from their colleagues. These can be informal events, or used as part of a specific focus on developing ethnic minority talent by providing learning opportunities, eternal speakers and positive successful role models from within and outside the organisation.