Holbeck Together has officially launched the Holbeck Together Business Alliance, a new partnership initiative bringing together a range of well-known Leeds businesses to support the charity’s mission to reduce inequality, strengthen community resilience and expand opportunity for residents in Holbeck.
Since coming together earlier this year to hear about the work of Holbeck Together, member businesses have stepped forward with a powerful combination of practical volunteering, financial support and strategic expertise – all helping Holbeck Together to increase capacity, expand services and strengthen long-term sustainability.
The inaugural meeting hosted by KPMG shared examples of how the Alliance is already having a transformative impact on the charity and the Holbeck community. Examples of support include: corporate volunteers supporting every community event this quarter, pledges of financial support for year-round activities, contributions to seasonal campaigns to create food parcels and presents for children at Christmas, and strategic advice and expertise on business development and building financial resilience.
Elissa Newman, chief officer of Holbeck Together, said: “The support that has emerged through this Business Alliance has been phenomenal. Some businesses have been long-term supporters of Holbeck Together and have generously given time, skills and financial support for a number of years.
“Others are new friends of the charity, and we look forward to building our relationship with them over future years. Every business at the inaugural meeting has helped us in ways that are both practical and life-changing for our community.
“The Alliance moves us closer to reducing our reliance on grants and developing new, sustainable models of investment so we can continue delivering the services Holbeck deserves.
“People in Holbeck have a 12-year lower life expectancy than people living in Harewood – a distance of just 10 miles. As a charity working in an area where people face some of the starkest health inequalities in the city, this Alliance strengthens our resilience, our capacity and our ambition to reverse this statistic.”
Jonathan Morgan, who has played a pivotal role in bringing businesses together, said: “Holbeck Together is one of the most agile, community-focused organisations in Leeds. The Business Alliance brings the skills, networks and collective energy of the private sector to support an organisation making a real difference.
“This partnership is already generating tangible value – not only financially, but in shaping a stronger, more sustainable future for Holbeck.”
Members at the first meeting included Addleshaw Goddard, Apple HR, Boutique Media, Corstophine & Wright, Creative Space Management, Crowne Plaza Leeds, Design Tonic, Fox Lloyd Jones, Jonathan Morgan, KPMG, Leeds Building Society, Leeds United Football Club, Lucinda Yeadon, Northern Monk, Pierre Angulaire, SCC, Town Centre Securities, Yorkshire Design Group, Yorkshire Property Charitable Trust and Zerum.
Holbeck Together hopes to see membership continue to grow and is inviting businesses from all sectors to join the Alliance and help drive long-term, positive change for the Holbeck community.
