Forum Brief: Charity donations

Britain's top companies have more than doubled the percentage of pre-tax profits they give to charities and voluntary organisations, according to a survey in today's Guardian.

This year 0.95 per cent was donated by businesses in the FTSE 100, compared to 0.4 per cent last year.Forum Response: Depression Alliance

Jim Thomson, director for Depression Alliance, told ePolitix.com: "It's interesting to note that the top 100 companies claim that their charitable giving has doubled. In reality, this probably means that the so-called "top" charities will continue to get richer, as companies seek to align themselves with highly visible good causes. The vast majority of charities will continue to struggle to make ends meet.

"Depression Alliance represents the 1 in 5 people in the UK who will be affected by depression at some point in their lives. Our services are stretched to breaking point as our 9 paid staff and numerous volunteers try to cope with upwards of 45,000 new contacts every year, while keeping our range of services running.

"We receive a tiny grant from the government and face a continuing struggle just to maintain our services, let alone develop new initiatives. We appreciate that this isn't exceptional, 'difficult' causes will always struggle for adequate funding.

"The fact is that this is our reality - the more visible, high profile, and populist causes continue to forge ahead while for other - equally deserving - charities, the fight for survival is the norm."

Forum Response: The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Robin Hutchinson, head of communications at the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, told ePolitix.com: "The increasing levels of corporate support for the voluntary sector are encouraging and very welcome. The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association works closely with a range of businesses and this enables us to do a lot more than our finances would otherwise allow.

"In broader terms, at a time when other sources of income are becoming harder to tap into, the growing emphasis on corporate social responsibility goes some way to addressing this. However, whilst the total amount of corporate funding may be up in percentage terms, the actual sums involved are less encouraging.

"In addition, a growing proportion of this money is coming from marketing budgets, which are likely to be allocated to short term, project-based initiatives with the aim of improving, or enhancing, companies' images. What we need to see is the corporate and voluntary sectors working together towards joint aims. That relationship needs to be long-term and sustainable, and for some companies that is going to mean a significant shift in thinking."

Forum response: The National Trust

Jason Tanner, head of media for The National Trust, told ePolitix.com: "The National Trust does have a lot of assistance from Companies who are showing more and more corporate social responsibility, assisting in core responsibilities, rapidly expanding education projects with local primary schools.

"Norwich Union for example has provided over eighty Guardianship schemes around the country to be established. A cash injection of £500,000 a few years ago doubled the number of schemes being run to educate youngsters about the environment and how the countryside works.

"It is great that companies get involved and we work with many. We have also just launched an employee volunteering scheme encouraging company employees to take part in Corporate Social Responsibility activities, to recognise the need to work with the community and benefit the UK's largest conservation charity."

Forum response: Charity Commission

A spokesman for the Charity Commission told ePolitix.com: "Corporate social responsibility enhances a company's brand and reputation and provides significant help to the sector in both financial terms as well as through the donation of staff time and other initiatives.

"A number of charities and companies have also benefited from commercial partnerships which, when undertaken with care, can benefit the reputation and income of both parties."