£322,894
Product donations
Local Community Engagement
We believe that it is important to give back to the communities in which we live and operate. Our community ethos is aligned with our business purpose and Values, in particular, our Relationships and Enjoyment Values. We encourage our employees to engage in community activities, in particular, in the fields of animal welfare, human service and environmental stewardship. There is a particular focus on animal welfare. Below are examples of the community activities, financial and non-financial donations and areas of community employment that we have been involved in:
Community Activities
We have committed to giving our employees one day in the community, preferably as a team activity; and whilst this is in its infancy, we have seen teams in Brazil, the Netherlands, UK and USA engage in a variety of activities. In the US, 80 employees served two animal shelters local to our Portland and Kansas City offices. Employees dedicated their time to physical projects supporting the shelters, enabling shelter staff to dedicate more time to serving the animals in need. Both shelters are the respective area’s largest shelters and have programmes that support elementary students on the necessary care and compassion for animals. In addition, the Veterinarian Technical Services simulated a well visit to minimise potential stress or triggers of veterans suffering from PTSD or brain injuries.
Community Service Hours by Type
Animal Welfare 57.2%
Human Service 17.8%
Environmental 25.0%
Community Service Hours by Country
USA 362
UK 140
Brazil 4
Netherlands 80
Case Study
Head Office Community Activity
The Northwich Head Office team embarked on a CSR activity day in June, volunteering at a local Wildlife Reserve known as Lower Moss Wood, which is an educational nature reserve and wildlife hospital. It provides a place for schools, disabled visitors, environmental groups and others to go and learn about conservation and the environment. The wildlife hospital on site takes in any orphaned, sick or injured wild animals or birds and provides around the clock care. It is also a private nature reserve.
Twenty employees volunteered at the reserve across two days and collectively worked on digging out and restoring a natural peat bog. The aim was to allow the surrounding wildlife, most specifically dragonflies, to reach the water so they could survive and flourish.
Community Donations
For the last eight years we have operated a Group Donations scheme, whereby we encourage all employees to nominate a charity or non-commercial organisation for a charitable donation. This year we donated to eleven charities each receiving £2,500.
Group Annual Charitable Giving
Animal £17,500
Human £10,000
In addition to the annual Group donation, each business unit has the discretion to allocate funds and/or products to local community charities and/or animal welfare charities.
Business Unit Donations by Type
Cash £32,623
Product £322,894
The majority of the above product donations are short dated product which otherwise would have had to be destroyed.
At our Zagreb site, we have provided some land to the local community for use as a children’s playground for ten years.
Community Employment
Our IT and Finance teams located in the Uldum office supported three work readiness and retraining efforts for members of the greater Uldum community. This effort was another way to give back to the communities in which we live and work. Community members with special needs and circumstances were able to apply their skills and interests with a work assignment and work schedule that helped them build their confidence and transition back into productive members of the working community. Dechra team members who had the opportunity to learn about their circumstances and goals and watched their progress were also rewarded by the positive experience.
Similarly, our Brazilian business employed eleven apprentices, all of which were students working part-time to allow them to gain practical work experience, in both administrative areas such as Human Resources and also in production and maintenance. They worked four hours a day, over a period of either one or two years, in the business and attended a complementary qualification programmes for the remaining part of the day. The aim of the scheme was to help young people gain work experience prior to joining the labour market.