Better Bankside is connecting businesses in Bankside with local residents, schools and community groups.

Our community engagement programme seeks to meet the corporate responsibility objectives of our member companies, with a particular focus on the young people and their families of Borough and Bankside.

The key elements of our programme are:

• Community Partners programme - Seven local community organisations have been selected to receive grants and to benefit from volunteering activities for a period of three years up to 2010.
• Professional skills volunteering - Every two months Better Bankside publishes a vbrief, an electronic newsletter with individual volunteering opportunities for those working in Bankside.
• Work experience project - This is divided into two: our work with schools and our work with local youth clubs (Events Academy).
• Partnership with Southwark Education Business Alliance - This programme identifies mentors and work experience placements for local secondary school pupils.
• Christmas Project - Now entering its fifth year, Bring a Better Christmas collects a huge number of gifts for older and homeless people.

There are many ways to get involved in our work, feel free to explore the links on the right and get in touch if you see something that inspires you. Contact Rachel Fitzgerald on 020 7928 3998 or rf@betterbankside.co.uk for more information