ethical junction

Striding Out

Ethical Policy

Striding Out is committed to working towards the Sustainable Business Challenge set by us on a monthly basis. We believe as a small organization that every little bit counts, so we try our best! • Recycling for the Community We collect plastic milk bottle lids, print cartidges, mobile phones and used stamps for Naomi House. Naomi House offers a safe, caring and loving environment for terminally ill children, who are unlikely to reach adulthood. They provide respite care and support for the whole family during both good and difficult times. To find out more about Naomi House visit www.naomihouse.org.uk • Sourcing Environmental Packaging and Products Striding Out has actively sourced its printing requirements from printers using sustainable sources, suppliers include Kent Art Printers. We have also purchased recycled stationary and merchandise from sources such as e.g. Remarkable for events and The Big Leap Competition. • Tapping in Student Talent and Providing Valuable Work Experience Striding Out has provided eight students with valuable work experience from high school and Universities across London, in the areas of marketing, social accounting, education, event management and administration. Heather Wilkinson, the Founder of Striding Out also delivers talks for a range of Education Enterprise Initiatives to School and University Students. Initiatives include Young Enterprise UK, University of Dreams, Bright Sparks etc. • Supporting a local or national charitable cause, by fundraising or offering inkind support. In-Kind Support – We encourage all of our employees to engage in supporting a charitable concern, to offer their skills in helping others. We currently work with Young Enterprise UK to mentor a group of secondary school students who are developing a business. In-Kind Fundraising - Striding Out has hosted a charity pamper evening for CLIC, a charity supporting young children with Leukemia and Cancer. In September 2007 we are planning a charity fashion show with our members. • Engaging in Local Community Development During July 2006, Striding Out applied its business experience to help a community become more efficient and entrepreneurial. Striding Out got in touch with the Regeneration Officer at Wychavon District Council, the location of our Extreme Weekend in the Cotswolds. We had 14 talented entrepreneurs on our weekend, spanning the expertise of branding, hospitality, marketing, disability etc. so he had a pool of knowledge to draw on. The Regeneration Officer identified a project that we could undertake to aid them in the development of their tourist economy. The local village of Broadway is a honey-pot for tourists but there are a number of concerns in relation to the visitor experience. He asked us to investigate these areas in further detail, and to identify new ideas and opportunities to enhance the tourist experience. As a result of market research and brainstorming, the two teams came up with a report of their findings and proposals for enhancing the tourist experience of Broadway. To see the teams in action visit Striding Out Extreme • Disability Awareness Under the DDA, small to medium sized businesses have to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ so they do not discriminate against disabled customers or employees. The Department of Work and Pensions has put together a Better Business Checklist for small businesses to anticipate what the need to consider and we are currently working towards meeting these standard, working closely with our Disability Consultant Simon Stevens. • Using Ethical Venues and Suppliers Striding Out actively seeks to use venues that are responsible and ethical to maximize our social impact. We have used a number of social enterprise venues including The Hoxton Apprentice, Fifteen Restaurant, the Candid Arts Trust, and the Hub on a regular basis, and we have used organic caterers such as Skye Cooks. • Managing Employee Relations Striding Out ensures their employees are treated with respect and that their needs are met professionally and personally. Employees are treated throughout the year with perks such as massages, meals and trips. Alongside this they are provided with an opportunity to continue their professional development through accessing training internally and externally as need/demand requires to ensure they retain high quality skills and knowledge in their profession.