Posted on January 9, 2012 by Phillip Lee

Last week, I had the honour to join the Prime Minister in Bracknell at the Waitrose Distribution HQ. We were there to recognise the outstanding involvement of the compant in good causes, both locally and nationally. It is a very long time since a Prime Minister of this country visited the Bracknell constituency (outside of the obvious regular visits to the RMA at Sandhurst). Indeed, I have found no one who can recall such a visit. The Prime Minister presented managing director Mark Price with a Big Society Award for the supermarket chain’s Community Matters Scheme, which has now donated £10m to charity.

Waitrose is a commendable organisation that shows its commitment to the wider community in an entrepreneurial spirit and responsible way. The Scheme allows customers to apply for their Charity of Choice to be selected to receive a share of the £1000 raised in each store. Shoppers are offered a green token every time they shop in the store, which can be then inserted in one of three boxes – one for each organisation. At the end of the month these tokens for each organisation are counted, and the beneficiaries receive a corresponding proportion of the funds. The Community Matters Scheme offers a great opportunity to help raise people’s awareness and personally contribute to some chosen charities. I am pleased that Waitrose is doing such a great job in making our society better off by helping people to engage in charitable activities that will benefit our communities and local economies as a whole country.

In addition I was very pleased to hear that The Partner Volunteering scheme will also see thousands of Waitrose employees give a total of 75,000 hours of volunteering with local charities during 2012. The Prime Minister also heard plans for the John Lewis Partnership to formally launch a 12-month apprenticeship scheme to give young people an insight into the workings of the business. At a tough time for the British economy it is essential that we give young people opportunities to develop their careers – they are the future of our society, our industry and our country. This is great news for the business and young people in Britain. Hence, it is particularly good news for Bracknell, as Waitrose is already the largest private employer in the constituency.

Ever since my election as a candidate I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of community activities in Sandhurst, Bracknell, Crowthorne, and Finchampstead. The PM’s presentation of a Big Society award was just further confirmation of the vibrancy of Bracknell Constituency life. I believe it is more important than ever in these difficult economic times that we work together to make Bracknell constituency a great place to live. The Big Society is all about that: moving power away from central government and giving it to local communities and individuals.

(Published in the Wokingham Times, January 2012)