United Utilities: United Futures

United Futures is the flagship community partnership between United Utilities and Groundwork. The programme combines Groundwork's community understanding and expertise with United Utilities' resources and local presence to help meet objectives and local needs that are of importance to both organisations. The partnership delivers bespoke community project covering social inclusion, volunteering and environmental enhancement.

Inputs:

• Cash: £1,500,000
• Time: £102,000 from 681 employees participating during paid company time
• Total value of contributions: £1,602,000

Outputs:

Leverage:

• £4,750,000 unlocked from charitable funds such as the Big Lottery and Green Spaces

Community benefits:

Over the 5 years the project has been running the community has benefited in various different areas:

• Area of land improved: 228,591m2
• Area of land maintained: 1,362,691m2
• Trees planted: 1,454
• Environmental management systems implemented: 54
• Environmental improvement projects: 46
• Schools actively involved: 135
• Training weeks delivered: 1,145
• Young people actively involved: 52,849
• Adults actively involved: 6,557
• Community groups actively involved: 128
• Community grants distributed: 551
• Stakeholder groups actively involved: 421
• Local Authorities actively engaged: 23
  
  

Business benefits:

The programme is fully aligned with United Utilities' CR approach. It has a very clear role and purpose that is linked to climate change amongst other things. Other areas of business benefit are:

• Project management savings
• Reputational Value
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Financial Leverage
• Ability to deliver bespoke projects
• External recognition
• Credibility and positioning