At Williams Lea, we actively encourage our employees’ involvement in charitable schemes and initiatives as a route to making a practical, meaningful contribution to society.

At a corporate level, we have nominated charities supported by the business. Our corporate ‘Give as you earn’ scheme enables individuals to make regular contributions to their charity of choice, directly from their salaries. From marathon running to sky-diving, our people are encouraged to make a difference in what ever way they are able.

Global initiatives

UK
In the UK, Williams Lea supports Cancer Research UK (CR-UK) as our chosen Charity of the Year. CR-UK is the world's leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research. Money raised will fund a team of four Senior Research Nurses across a number of units in the UK, including Cambridge, Glasgow, Luton and London. A key focus for the CR-UK scientists is to develop treatments that target cancer more precisely and are kinder for patients. Research like this will lead to improved cancer treatments that should save many more lives in the future.

In 2010, our employees raised over £200,000 for CR-UK and we are committed to raising a further £200,000 in 2011. Our employees have fully embraced this and fundraising activity is taking place across the country including cake bakes, quiz nights, charity balls and personal challenges. We also promote nationwide events: in 2010 we held our first Freedom Dash where teams of three had to get as far as possible away from HMP Pentonville in London without spending any of their own money. They raised over £34,000 with some teams making it as far as Lisbon and Munich!

In addition, Williams Lea has a long-standing relationship with Stormont House School in the UK; a special needs School that teaches children with behavioural, physical or emotional health challenges which make mainstream education unsuitable for them. For more information about Stormont House, visit www.stormonthouse.hackney.sch.uk.

The Americas
In the Americas, Williams Lea focuses efforts on the American Heart Association. The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. They provide credible heart disease and stroke information for effective prevention and treatment. For more information about the American Heart Association, visit www.americanheart.org.