Warwick Events: Corporate - Charity Partnership Case Study

“We decided at the beginning of 2023 to work with just one local charity uniquely. We felt that giving time, expertise and donations to one organisation meant that we could get to know them better and understand what the charity needs most. It allowed us to use our strengths and resources to support in areas where it was needed. “

Warwick Events is based in Stratford-upon-Avon and helps companies create sustainable events, developing experiences that make individuals both feel good and do good.

“We have worked alongside the team now for three years and have found the experience thought-provoking, enlightening, and satisfying. This comes from getting to know the charity, its work and the team individually and what they do to help and support so many young people who find themselves outside of the system that is supposed to help them.”

Bardsley Youth Project staff worked closely with the Warwick Events team this year to develop and implement the charity’s corporate partnership survey. The survey is used to facilitate learning, as the charity seeks to move away from being predominantly grant-reliant. Together, Warwick Events and Bardsley Youth Project have also worked on establishing a LinkedIn presence for the charity and the partnership. The opportunity has been enjoyed by Warwick Events, who have been able to share news of the partnership work both on social media and their website. Below, they reflect on the value of the partnership for them.

“The value for me has come from the satisfaction of playing a small part in helping the team by using my skills and experience to raise the awareness of the much-needed work that the Bardsley team does. By building a longer-term relationship with the charity, the team and trustees, we can start to understand the reasons why young people are in the situations they find themselves in (and not always what we thought/assumed) and how the team are tackling them proactively. Hearing how the team address a whole range of social, emotional and financial challenges that young people face is inspirational and humbling.”

During the planning phases, Bardsley Youth Project felt honoured to be asked about training and skills gaps in the sector, and to be asked for suggestions of small local charities who might be able to benefit from the Better Together Event, run by Warwick Events in conjunction with local firms. Their goal was to create a training event where businesses could engage with local charities, training them in skills that are often hard to obtain training on in the charity sector.

“Working with the team at Bardsley has extended our knowledge and awareness of the challenges in our local community and made us so much better at creating and forging links between charity and business.”

Warwick Events and Bardsley Youth Project have truly flourished through their collaborative partnership work.  

“We know that we are making a difference. Not just for the team and the young people who benefit from the service, but for us as well. It feels good to know that our knowledge and skills are helping others to develop theirs.

“For me, it was like coming home. To a place where I used to spend my Friday nights at the youth club there in the 60s.”     

Case study written by Rachel (Bardsley Youth Project) using quotes from Caroline (Business, Development & Community) at Warwick Events.