Rutland Citizens Advice has participated in a European Commission funded project, to carry out research on partnerships between private companies and citizens organisations in 8 European countries. The project aim was to fill the knowledge gap between citizens’ organisations and companies in developing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and identifying guidelines for the development of partnerships on the basis of existing good practices.

The term corporate social responsibility can broadly be defined as: "Operating a business in a manner that meets or exceeds the ethical, legal, commercial and public expectations that society has of business”. Increasingly business is being expected to show how competition is compatible with community and is therefore developing CSR policies and practices. CSR, is not only a challenge to business but it is as much a challenge to government and civil society. Although business and civic society have different ways of seeing the world both sides need to understand the other.

Partnerships are defined as participants coming from different sectors but sharing objectives, resources, responsibility and risks. The project identified successful partnerships and collected in depth information about them. The long standing partnerships between Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and Citizens Advice were explored in depth.

Interestingly the result of the research showed a considerable consensus of opinion throughout Europe and the different types of organisations, on some fundamental guidelines for developing good CSR.

Briefly the 6 main recommendations for building good CSR relationships are:

• Dialogue and communications
• Clear and shared objectives
• Transparency and integrity
• Mutual trust and respect
• Setting of clear rules
• Compatibility between partners visions and values

If you are interested in moving from straight fundraising to the benefit of partnerships, the full report is available in pdf format from the link below.

Citizens as Corporate Social Responsibility Partners Final Report

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