A unique approach
New ways of communicating. Better access to information and education. Fun and entertainment.
The digital world is bursting with social benefits. Virgin Media is passionate about harnessing the power of their fibre optic network and putting it in the hands of customers so that they can discover and experience all the benefits of the digital world for themselves.
Creating a digital future that creates social benefits means focusing on two things:
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Leading the agenda about rights and responsibilities in the digital world |
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Investing in communities that will benefit from their help |
What do they support?
Virgin Media supports over 60 local and national charities with fundraising and volunteering. Charities are proposed and elected by staff in 50 locations. All staff have the opportunity to take a paid volunteering day which can be used to support one of the elected charities or any other not-for-profit.
Other initiatives are
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Virgin Media Pioneers |
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This programme creates opportunities for young entrepreneurs to share their ideas and learn from each other as well as from established business experts, to help them get their businesses off the ground. |
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Young People Initiative |
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Working with Virgin Unite, Virgin Media is developing a programme to support mainly disadvantaged young people between the ages of 16 to 24. Virgin Media is currently exploring all sorts of ways that it could support young people, from using its training capability, to its broadband network, and to its links into other businesses and government. This programme will launch in 2012 so watch this space. |
Working with Virgin Unite
As well as the Young People initiative currently underway, Virgin Unite support Virgin Media across a range of other campaigns, from Comic Relief and Children in Need fundraising, to running the company’s "100 Skydivers" event.
Virgin Unite has also organised Give Time Hit Squads, giving Virgin Media employees the opportunity to use their business skills to help charities, such as Oxfam, on strategic issues. It means employees make a meaningful difference to the not-for-profit sector.
Impact?
In 2011, over 500 volunteering days will be taken by Virgin Media staff supporting charities around the country.
As well as using its digital network to create social benefits, Virgin Media take their own impact on the environment and community around us seriously. In addition, the business has also prioritised three important objectives:
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Building a low carbon, low waste business and making sure it minimises the impact it has on the environment. |
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Creating a diverse and inclusive business, inside and out – acknowledging differences and treating everyone fairly, with dignity and respect. |
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Working with suppliers to meet sustainability challenges, thinking differently and finding solutions together. |
Here’s what they are saying:
JP Hamilton, Head of Social Investment, Virgin Media, said:
“Virgin Unite is an invaluable partner to Virgin Media. Their dedication to creating a great programme clearly shines through, from the mutual planning and understanding of our business to the high standards set for the final output. And all delivered with great Virgin energy.”
Claire Goring, Virgin Unite Hit Squad participant at Virgin Media, said:
“I'm sure I speak on behalf of all of us here at Virgin Media in that we thoroughly enjoyed the day and found it both productive and illuminating. In particular, I enjoyed hearing about the various projects that Oxfam is involved in looking at sustainable solutions for world problems at a community level. Good luck with the preparations for launch. It's a great project and we're more than happy to have a follow up session.”
To learn more about Virgin Media’s initiatives, please visit:
For more info on Virgin Media, please email:
community@virginmedia.co.uk