Page 38 Supporting our communities


Golden Jubilee Trust
A key component of our employee volunteering is the Golden Jubilee Trust (GJT), which enables any Partner to volunteer for a part- or full-time secondment with a UK registered charity for up to six months.

The GJT scheme matches Partners' abilities and experience with the needs of the charities being supported, creating strong links with the community and providing the charities with the resources they need. Since it was set up in 2000, the GJT has supported 331 Partners across the business, who have given over 136,000 hours to over 300 charities. Thirty-three John Lewis and Corporate Partners donated 18,279 hours through the Trust in 2007, while a further 17 received awards in spring 2008.

The Trust's primary goal is to benefit the charities it supports and, through these, the wider community, mirroring our principle of contributing to the wellbeing of the communities where we operate. However, we also recognise the significant benefits participation brings to both participants and the business, such as the chance to develop new professional or personal skills, or to strengthen our standing in the local community.

In 2008, the Golden Jubilee Trust was reaccredited and once again received a Business in the Community 'Big Tick' Award for Excellence.

"Hop, Skip and Jump provides a safe place for children with special needs to play, while giving their parents a break from childcare. I know first-hand how valuable the service is, as my six-year-old Lewis has Asperger's syndrome. Now that things are a lot better, I have been able to repay some of the support I have received with a six month secondment, working on everything from organising a database to sourcing new office equipment. My John Lewis skills have come in useful at the centre but I have also learnt new abilities that have given me greater confidence and will help me do my job better."
Teresa Oxenham Call Centre, John Lewis Cribbs Causeway