Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) is urging more businesses based in Roscommon to be involved in helping deliver its various education programmes.
BITCI’s education programmes are guaranteed to be a worthwhile employee engagement experience, also enabling the company to forge closer links with the local community and help tackle educational disadvantage.
Through its network of regional co-ordinators, BITCI pairs and supports companies’ volunteers to deliver education programmes with local DEIS schools.
BITCI have two different education programmes operating within the primary school system, aimed at improving literacy and numeracy among 2nd and 3rd class pupils. These are delivered in a one-to-one and group-based setting.
BITCI also offer secondary school education programmes, which involve mentorship, workplace visits, sharing career insights and advice and work placements.
All programmes are designed to provide pupils with an improved understanding of the world of work, raise their own career expectations, create a level playing field and increase their self-confidence. Approximately 5000 pupils across Ireland benefit from these programmes annually.
Collaboration
The collaboration between schools and businesses is a core plank to the work of BITCI, whose purpose is to inspire and enable businesses to bring about a sustainable, low carbon economy, and an inclusive society where everyone thrives. BITCI’s team of experts work with companies to embed all aspects of sustainability into their business models. They know that when companies invest in community engagement actions strategically, rather than in a siloed way, it improves their productivity, employee morale, and helps tackle social inequality in their area.
Andrea Lazenby Simpson (BITCI Head of Education) said, “Already we run these programmes with a number of local businesses (large and small in size) but now the number of schools keen to participate has increased rapidly.
“We’d like to respond to this demand and ensure more pupils benefit from these programmes but need local companies to join us. So far all feedback from all involved have been really positive so it is a win-win experience for all”.
For the company it is an opportunity to give back to their local communities, identify future talent and increase awareness of the workplace. For the school, it leads to improved attendance and engagement by the pupils involved.
Feedback
Insights from recent evaluations found 100% of volunteers had a meaningful employee volunteering experience. One principal called it, “An invaluable programme for students to get involved with companies they may not otherwise get the chance to and a great way to develop their skills outside the classroom”, with one mentor saying, “It is an opportunity for me to share the life experiences and lessons I’ve learnt with my mentee to hopefully encourage and steer them in their future career paths”.
Want to learn more?
If your company is interested in getting involved, please visit bitci.ie or email alazenbysimpson@bitc.ie.
