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º£½ÇÊÓÆµâ€™s partnership with CARE International UK

In 2024, º£½ÇÊÓÆµ announced a partnership with leading humanitarian organisation, CARE International UK, to support their response and emergency shelter work in disaster-affected communities around the world.

The partnership strengthened CARE’s shelter capacity, providing safe, dignified homes to those who are most vulnerable to disasters and the climate emergency. As well as providing financial support, º£½ÇÊÓÆµ shares our expertise to strengthen the charity’s emergency response, with the aim of building a lasting ongoing partnership.

Now in the second year of the partnership, º£½ÇÊÓÆµ reflects on the genesis of the partnership, spotlighting a number of communities where CARE delivered humanitarian aid.

A partnership born from urgency and empathy

In the wake of devastating global events like the Turkey-Syria and Morocco earthquakes, º£½ÇÊÓÆµ faced a pivotal question: how could a company rooted in the built environment meaningfully contribute to humanitarian crises? The initial motivation came from º£½ÇÊÓÆµ staff who expressed a strong desire to take action. As a community of experts working in the built environment, there was an opportunity to provide help in an area in which we can mobilise significant skills. But, despite the goodwill, º£½ÇÊÓÆµâ€™s structure and business model isn’t well suited to deploying people to disaster zones directly, and while our people have valuable expertise, they do not have experience of working in humanitarian contexts. Reflecting on this, we chose instead to support those who were well suited for this work: humanitarian experts with local presence and knowledge.

Leaders, including º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Partner Mark Lavery, London Structures Director Tom Newby, and CEO Oliver Plunkett initiated a formal RFP process to identify a global humanitarian partner aligned with º£½ÇÊÓÆµâ€™s values and expertise.  Following a selection process run by a cross-section of º£½ÇÊÓÆµâ€™s global staff, CARE International UK was selected for an initial pilot two-year partnership, thanks to its deep global experience and alignment with the built environment.

How the partnership works

At the heart of the relationship is trust and transparency. º£½ÇÊÓÆµ contributes Â£100,000 annually in semi-flexible funding, allowing CARE to allocate funds where they’re most needed – a rare and impactful approach in corporate philanthropy. Staff also engage through additional fundraising drives and pro bono technical support, reinforcing the company’s commitment beyond financial contributions.

CARE’s work often extends to crises that don’t make headlines, ensuring that aid reaches those who need it most, regardless of media attention. This behind-the-scenes impact is a testament to the depth and reach of the partnership.

Pride in purpose

º£½ÇÊÓÆµâ€™s collaboration with CARE International is a powerful example of purpose in action. In light of recent global cuts to aid budgets, the significance of corporate giving is even more important. These reductions in institutional funding force organisations like CARE to make difficult decisions about who to help, and who not to help. Semi-flexible donations allow aid organisations to maintain critical services in disaster zones, in accordance with humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. Providing aid in accordance with these principles helps CARE maintain access to people in need even the most difficult of circumstances, and º£½ÇÊÓÆµ fully supports their approach.

This partnership is more than a donation, it’s a journey of shared values, technical collaboration and global impact.

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