SMART Corporate Social Responsibility Projects

SMART sponsors GBR Yacht Racing Academy ‘Chernikeeff 2’ in the Summer 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race

SMART UK is pleased to sponsor the GBR Yacht Racing Academy yacht ‘Chernikeeff 2’ in The Royal Ocean Racing Club's biennial Rolex Fastnet Race. The race has earned a reputation for being one of the toughest events in the international yacht racing calendar and attracts A-list sailors from around the world, as well as the strongest international line-up of grand prix race yachts.

The GBR Yacht Racing Academy is a funded programme run by UKSA that supports and inspires young people through the intense challenge of high performance yacht racing. UKSA is focused on widening access to top level racing, and relies on donations to provide training, food and accommodation for the team throughout the racing season.

300 boats set sail from Cowes on Sunday 9th August 2009 with Chernikeeff 2 sailing in the Super Zero Class. Race updates were available online via the Fastnet website, along with regular updates from the individual boats. Additionally, each boat was supplied with an OCTracker beacon, a self contained unit that transmits the position of each boat at regular intervals using GPS and Iridium (a global satellite phone network). Progress of the Chernikeeff 2 could also be followed from the Fastnet website.

Chris Tattersall, Managing Director, UK commented: “We are delighted to have sponsored the Chernikeeff 2 this weekend and to be able to support a good cause. A last minute decision but one which we feel beneficial in helping young people.”

Amy Prime, Crew Member on Chernikeeff 2 added: “Chernikeeff 2 had a lovely start, currently doing 6 knots in Christchurch Bay and rolling Steve White's “Toe In The Water” to windward. All the members of the crew wish to say a big thank you to SMART, for saving our campaign with only two days to the start, and for helping give everyone on board this fantastic experience.”

Crew members aboard the Chernikeeff 2

SMART Charity Reception

On June 18th SMART UK celebrated our second anniversary by holding a client reception at The Howard Hotel in London. Guests included many senior people from City organisations along with other clients and Partners of SMART UK.

We are delighted with the continued success of our London operations and the increasingly strong relationships we have forged in the city, however we felt that our celebrations should not only thank our clients, but also give something back to the local community.

At SMART we strongly believe in the voluntary work that we undertake and all staff are encouraged to participate in charitable initiatives throughout the year. We also felt that during these difficult financial times, local charities need our support more than ever and held a charity auction at our reception, to raise money for two local initiatives.

As SMART already have a strong relationship with Halley Primary School in Tower Hamlets, we decided to continue our charitable focus in this particular area of the city by supporting the two following initiatives:

Toy House Libraries Association of Tower Hamlets
Providing facilities along with therapeutic and educational toys for children and adults with special needs in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the objective of improving the quality of life for such individuals.

Tower Hamlets Primary Schools Sports Association
Encourages out of school hours training in athletics, basketball, boxing, cricket, football, hockey, netball, rounder’s, swimming and tennis in affiliated schools and organises competitions in these sporting activities.

The auction items included a personal chef to cook a three-course meal for ten, a week’s holiday for four at a US beach resort, and a Nintendo Wii. Each item was well received by our guests and generated over £2,000, which will be divided equally between our selected charities.

“Opera in The City” – Charity Christmas Concert

SMART UK was pleased to invite pupils from Halley Primary School to attend the “Opera in The City” annual Christmas charity concert, hosted by Louise Merrett. We took 30 Year 6 pupils from Halley Primary School, in our chosen borough of Tower Hamlets, to the charity Christmas concert, which takes place at one of the City of London’s finest churches, St Mary-le-Bow.  This year’s concert was held on Thursday, 4th December at 1.05 pm.

The concert marks the event’s fifth anniversary and all profits will go to support the Classic FM Music Makers Charity, MusicQuest project. The MusicQuest project, organised by The Princes Foundation for Children and the Arts, raises money to fund musical education and music therapy projects, helping children across the UK have the chance to hear and grow to love classical music.

We hope that our involvement not only supports the MuiscQuest project, but also introduces classical music to some of the children of Halley Primary School.

City Action and Halley Primary School

As part of the SMART UK drive to work with and support the local community, we have teamed up with City Action, an organisation set up in 1998 by the City of London Corporation.  City Action’s objective is to put business at the heart of the community, achieved by engaging with firms in practical activities, which enables them to contribute to the social and economic regeneration.

As a result of this collaboration, SMART UK are pleased to be working with Halley Primary School in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, and have recently undertaken a “Financial Literacy Program” along the lines of the popular TV series, “The Apprentice”, specifically working with the students of Year 6, aged 10-11 – except no one is fired! Members of the SMART team (nicknamed “The Suits” by the students) lead this program working directly with City Action and the School Project Leader.

Over a five-week period, six teams had to come up with a product that they could sell at a profit to fellow pupils, teachers and parents. Each team had to prepare and present a business case to “The Suits” from “SMART Bank”. If their respective business cases were approved – and all of them were – “SMART Bank” (capitalised by the school!) lent each team £30.00 to fund their venture.

The program was very well received by the students, and we would like to congratulate “Pure Diamond”, the winning team, who made a profit of over £65.00 – a tremendous achievement making and selling jewellery products. Their prize for winning was a trip to the Rainforest Café, followed by a trip on the London Eye. As for the profits, they were put towards an end of term children’s party.

Such was the success of the SMART program at Halley Primary School, City Action asked if they could replicate our model, and expand the experience for other schools. Of course we agreed, and look forward to providing as much support as we can to City Action. SMART UK, however, are proud to be continuing our work with Halley Primary School and shall be returning in 2009!

We are also pleased to have appeared in the City Action Autumn 2008 Newsletter, showcasing our contribution to the program.

World Vision – Child Sponsorship

World Vision is a Christian charity that works with children, families and communities in their struggle against “poverty, hunger and injustice”, irrespective of their religious beliefs. They focus on the basics of child wellbeing - basic needs and rights, for the world's most vulnerable children, in some of the toughest contexts. They work in an area until the community is entirely self-sufficient. SMART UK sponsors two children through World Vision:

Moe Pyit Pyit Zin
Moe Pyit Pyit Zin is 6 years old and lives with her Father in Chan Mya Tha Zi, Myanmar. She has the opportunity to go to school, and our sponsorship helps her continue her education. For her recent birthday in October, we collected enough money to buy her 2 piglets.

Freyvin Humberto Hernandez
Freyvin Humberto Hernandez, is almost 4 years old. He is not currently enrolled at school but education is one of the priorities of the sponsorship project. In addition, our sponsorship has provided medicines, vitamins, and blankets.