Connect Dacorum

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Bridging Communities, Building Opportunities

Connect Dacorum stands as the heartbeat of collaboration in Dacorum. It’s a spirited initiative that unites local businesses, public institutions, and charitable organisations under one common goal: to foster a thriving, inclusive community where opportunities abound and partnerships flourish. 

Our Mission

At Connect Dacorum, our mission is clear: to create meaningful connections and opportunities for everyone in our community. Through innovative collaborations and shared visions, we strive to build a future where businesses thrive, individuals succeed, and no one is left behind. 

Key Initiatives

Networking: We provide a dynamic platform for local businesses to connect, collaborate, and grow. Through regular networking events, entrepreneurs and business leaders exchange ideas, forge partnerships and stay updated. 

Community Engagement: We are deeply rooted in our community, working closely with schools, nonprofits, and public services to address local challenges. From educational programs to social outreach initiatives, Connect Dacorum actively contributes to the well-being of our residents. 

Skill Development: Through skill development workshops and training sessions, we empower individuals with the tools they need to succeed. Whether it’s honing entrepreneurial skills or enhancing employability, we believe in the transformative power of education and mentorship. 

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Connect Dacorum encourages businesses to give back to society. We facilitate partnerships between corporations and local charities, enabling them to support causes that matter. Through CSR initiatives, we create a positive impact on the lives of those in need. 

Events and Celebrations: Connect Dacorum organizes a range of events that bring people together. These celebrations not only showcase the rich diversity of our community but also strengthen the bonds that make Dacorum a wonderful place to live and work. 

Join Us

Connect Dacorum invites you to be a part of this transformative journey. Whether you’re a business looking to expand your horizons, an individual seeking new opportunities, or a charitable organisation dedicated to making a difference, there’s a place for you here. Together, we can build a brighter future for Dacorum. 

Connect Dacorum: Where Connections Flourish, and Communities Thrive. 

How Connect Dacorum can help your company’s Corporate Social Responsibility objectives

Connect Dacorum assists companies to improve their CSR activities within the local community. We are the only organisation helping businesses work together, unite with Dacorum based charities and schools and benefit from the rewards of giving back to the local community. Did you know that 97% of people would think more positively about a company that contributes to their community?

We hold regular networking events which includes a great mix of both charities and businesses (so it’s not just about CSR, you can also reap the benefits of meeting like-minded businesses!).

We can introduce your company to many socially responsible topics, including giving your unwanted office equipment and furniture to local charities, offering your technical experience, volunteering activities and team building opportunities, environmental advice and the employment of disabled or disadvantaged people. We also run various projects that your staff could get involved in with the local secondary schools.

  • Giving a Gift
    Consider the product or service that your company provides and then try to link that to a local charity. Alternatively through us you can offer your redundant equipment or furniture to a good cause or offer the use of meeting or conference facilities for AGMs etc.
  • Giving Financial Donations
    Raise money through sponsorship, event days, social evenings, competitions, etc. Employee and company donations to a charity can be as large or small as is comfortable and are tax free. Introduce staff salary giving schemes
  • Volunteering
    We can help set up and encourage a staff volunteering scheme. This will allow your staff to participate in a vast array of local opportunities, improving their moral and motivation. Volunteering can be in your own time or in company time like the very popular team building challenges.
  • Employing a Disabled or Disadvantaged Person
    We work closely with various agencies who help get people back into work so instead of paying advertising and agency costs consider up-skilling an existing employee and employ a disabled or disadvantaged person either full time, part time or on a job trial or work experience basis.
  • Becoming a More Environmentally Friendly Company
    Recycle your office paper, cardboard and printer cartridges. Adopt a car sharing scheme, be aware of savings to your company and the environment. We have members who can give you ideas and support.
  • Offering Technical Support
    Be proud of your excellence, offer your expertise in marketing, IT, law, finance, etc to a start up company or local charity. Through us you can offer excess training day places to charities, offer work experience, give some technical advice to charities.
  • Dragons Apprentice Challenge
    This is a challenge for Year 12 students from Dacorum secondary schools. The team is matched with a business mentor (the Dragon) and also a local charity and they are challenged to turn £100 into £1000 or more for a Dacorum charity by means of business related ideas.
    Participation in the Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge offers a win-win opportunity for all parties involved, creating the opportunity for excellent partnerships between local community groups and charities,businesses and young people, creating a stronger community over the long term. It provides a structured means to promote and encourage engagement between charity/community groups, local businesses and schools. It helps raise the profile of your organisationand the third sector in the area and it is a great development tool for an employee’s continual professional development.
  • Employability days at local secondary schools
    We’ve all got CVs and gone for interviews so we all have experience to pass on to the next generation. Can you help secondary schools give valuable advice on CV writing and interview techniques through one of the projects we run.

Benefits of being a member of Connect Dacorum

  • Closer integration with the local community in which your business operates.
  • Be part of a network of forward thinking, like-minded and innovative partners working together to help their local community.
  • Invitation to six networking events per year, including a special Christmas Lunch.
  • Develop new business relationships.
  • Advertising on our website including a profile and web links.
  • Monthly updates letting you know what is going on in the community.
  • Individual volunteering choices.
  • Reduced rate for advertising on Radio Dacorum and on a Shopmobility scooter
  • Increased staff satisfaction and engagement, giving improved motivation.
  • Receive personalised advice, guidance and information from the Connect Dacorum Manager.
  • Receive regular list of opportunities within the community.
  • Save costs and reduce environmental impact by donating redundant resources to a multitude of local charities and good causes rather than send them to landfill.
  • Offer gifts and pro bono advice to local charities.
  • Free publicity of community involvement, giving positive PR, enhanced reputation and customer recognition.
  • Opportunity to sponsor a networking lunch or other event.
  • Advice and guidance on the employment of Disabled and Disadvantaged persons.
  • Opportunity to sponsor a community minibus.
  • Use of Connect Dacorum logo.
  • Opportunity to take part in special projects such as Dragons Apprentice Challenge and Employability Days.

To find out more about Connect Dacorum please email cindy@communityactiondacorum.org.uk.