Social responsibility
As individuals, we all have an effect on the world around us. And when hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people are grouped together – for example, at a workplace – that impact can be considerable.
Social responsibility is the responsibility that companies accept for the way in which their operations make a social, environmental, and economical impact. It’s about making a difference by the practices they adopt – accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative.
Clarks have always taken our role in the community seriously – from providing education and housing for our very first workers to supporting international initiatives to improve people’s lives today. We recognise the importance of caring for our employees, suppliers and stakeholders all over the world; and we are helping to create a sustainable future through our ‘reduce, re-use and recycle’ policy.
We’ve supported a variety of charities and their campaigns over the years, from personal appeals – such as our in-store scheme encouraging staff to apply for a £500 award to a charity of their choice – to large-scale initiatives like those listed below:
Soul of Africa
Soul of Africa
Soul of Africa is a self-sustainable charity initiative that helps orphans affected by AIDS. Its aim is to raise funds and create employment through the sale of hand-stitched shoes. Lance Clark set up the initiative in 2004 after visiting an AIDS-stricken community in Durban, South Africa. South Africa has been badly hit by HIV/AIDS, with many children left orphaned by the virus.
The scheme trains previously unemployed, and often unskilled, women to hand-stitch shoes, which are sold through Clarks and other retailers.
Since it was founded, the charity has raised over $1,000,000, which has been invested in facilities for the area’s orphans, as well as given meaningful employment to many women in some of the worst hit regions of South Africa.
To find out more about Soul of Africa click here.
Shoe Biz
Shoe Biz
Launched by Blue Peter and Unicef last year, the Shoe Biz appeal encouraged viewers to recycle their old shoes to raise money for education projects worldwide. As the leading children’s shoe retailer, Clarks were happy to support the scheme and helped collect over 1,500,000 pairs of shoes – which raised funds for safe learning environments across Malawi. We were able to help 175 of these ‘children’s corners’ in total, giving care and support to 43,000 children in need.
Although the Blue Peter appeal has now come to an end, we’ve pledged to continue our support to the initiative for the next three years.
Collection points have been set up at more than 500 of our stores nationwide for people to deposit their old or unwanted footwear. Three pairs of shoes could provide three children with basic school supplies; 84 pairs could buy 300 exercise books (enough for 150 children for a year); and 600 pairs could buy a 'school-in-a-box' kit which contains education equipment for a teacher and 80 pupils.
To find your nearest participating store and donate your shoes today click here.
To make a monetary donation to the ShoeBiz appeal click here.
Responsible management of Clarks' leather supply chain - Click Here