Heart of Bucks have been working with local, family-run business RH Amar since 2005. We recently spoke to James Amar, Strategy and CSR Director about why they continue to choose Heart of Bucks for their local, corporate giving.
Why do you choose to give through Heart of Bucks?
Acting as a responsible business – one which is fully committed to positive social and environmental impact – is at the heart of our business. Supporting the communities where we live and work, including our Head Office in High Wycombe, is an integral part of this.
Each year we donate 10% of our profits to charity, and our donations to Heart of Bucks are part of this. We support Heart of Bucks because they have a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in our local area and serve as an essential bridge, connecting businesses like ours with community groups and charities which deliver positive and life-changing projects for those locally.
What do you like most about working with a community foundation?
We’ve worked with Heart of Bucks for over 20 years and one of the things we appreciate most is their wide-ranging reach across the community from individuals to businesses, and young to old. This breadth has seen the foundation have a positive impact on more than 3.2m people across our county.
I also like the way the foundation brings those in the community together to support others in the community. The recent creation of the Youth Board, for the Young Futures Fund, is one such example, whereby young people in our community help decide where to allocate grants to help support Buckinghamshire’s next generation. With one of our colleagues currently on the board, it has been interesting to hear first-hand about the amazing work the Young Futures Fund is doing to help realise the aspirations of young individuals across Buckinghamshire.
How do you see your company supporting the local community in the future?
We have been based in Buckinghamshire for over 50 years, it is very much home, and we continue to plan and invest in our future here. Looking ahead, RH Amar is committed to continuing our involvement in our local communities and our close relationship with Heart of Bucks will continue – helping to ensure our efforts are impactful and change to reflect the needs of the Buckinghamshire community.
Beyond our work with Heart of Bucks we are involved in the community in other ways too. Our colleagues volunteer in the community as part of our colleague volunteering day scheme, take part in local charity raising events, and as a food company we are proud to support our local foodbanks.
What would you say to someone thinking about giving through Heart of Bucks?
If you are considering giving through Heart of Bucks, I would wholeheartedly encourage you to do so.
Their local knowledge, expertise, and reach means your contributions will support wide-ranging causes and you can be confident that the foundation is making a tangible difference to those in our community.
On a personal level, Heart of Bucks is an extremely friendly, approachable, and engaging organisation. We always feel fully involved and updated on the projects our donations are supporting – it is great to feel so included. The personal connection and regular updates from Heart of Bucks make the experience even more fulfilling, allowing us to see firsthand the difference our support is making.
For RH Amar, it has been a privilege to contribute to Heart of Bucks’ work over the years, and we look forward to continuing this partnership for many more years to come.
To find out more about corporate giving through Heart of Bucks, please click here.