CSR Ideas for Basingstoke businesses: practical ways to give back

Looking for meaningful ways your business can give back to the local community? 

Whether you're working towards your corporate social responsibility goals or simply want to make a positive impact, it can be hard to know where to start. The good news is, many local businesses are already doing great things, often in simple, creative ways that make a real difference. In this blog, we’re sharing a few inspiring examples and practical ideas to help spark your own approach to giving back. The businesses featured vary in terms of industry sector and size showing there really is an opportunity for every business to get involved locally!

Charity giving

Charity giving is something many businesses already do, whether it’s donating a percentage of profits or organising in-office events to support a chosen cause.

There are also plenty of national awareness days that make it easy to get involved. From hosting a coffee morning for Macmillan to wearing your best festive knit for Christmas Jumper Day, these moments offer simple, fun ways to rally your team and raise funds for good causes.

Silchester Farm support a charity that is close to their heart. “Parkinson’s UK holds special significance for us as the previous owner of Silchester Farm passed the estate on due to his own journey with Parkinson’s. Supporting this charity allows us to honour the farm’s heritage while contributing to vital research and care that benefits people locally and nationally.”

Clark and Son, Lamb Brooks, Phillips Law and Chandlers all participate in the Make a Will campaign. This scheme means that the solicitor waives their usual fees for preparing simple single or joint Wills, so customers can donate the fee to St Michael’s Hospice instead. Each solicitor has a different month and places are limited.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a powerful way for businesses to give back and it doesn’t have to mean big commitments. Offering staff time during the working day to volunteer can make a real difference, whether they choose something personally meaningful like helping children read in schools, or join a group effort such as maintaining a local green space. It’s also a really great opportunity for businesses to do something as a team – building bonds with both team members and the community.

A number of local businesses are already doing this. Silchester Farm tells us “every member of our staff is given a dedicated Giving Back Day each year, encouraging them to volunteer their time with causes that matter to them personally. Whether it’s assisting at charity events, supporting schools or contributing to local initiatives, we believe small acts of service collectively make a significant difference.”

Brevity Marketing gives employees two paid days of volunteering a year. In previous years they have supported Inspero by helping out at the food bank and and in the community garden. Castle Trust is another business that offers staff a volunteering day.

Basingstoke Voluntary Action is a good place to start if you are looking for local volunteering opportunities for businesses. Take a read of our volunteering blog for further inspiration and hear stories from local volunteers.

Inspiring the future workforce

Supporting the next generation is another great way a business can give back. By opening your doors to school groups, youth organisations like Scouts, or offering free workshops and work experience placements, you’re helping young people explore career paths, build confidence and gain valuable insights into the world of work. These kinds of opportunities not only inspire future talent, they also help build lasting connections between your business and the wider community.

Petra Jewellery is a great example of inspiring a future workforce. For National Manufacturing Day 2025, they welcomed Year 9 students from Gosden House and introduced them to the craft of jewellery-making through a hands-on class. Each student designed their own piece of jewellery, working with copper, a material often used in place of silver for introductory sessions. During the summer they hosted three work experience students from Queen Mary's College for three days.

Using your business expertise

In every community, there are opportunities for professionals to make a meaningful difference beyond the workplace. Whether it's serving as a trustee for a local charity, mentoring young people or sharing your business knowledge through workshops and talks, your skills and experience can be a powerful force for good. Giving back doesn't always mean financial donations, sometimes the most valuable contribution is your time, insight and leadership.

Since the business started, Fortem Financial Management Ltd has been dedicated to educating people to help them understand their money better. Kevin White tells us “we regularly present to local schools on financial education and career guidance. Some of the schools we’ve worked with include The Blue Coat School, Bishop Challoner, Robert Mays, Coppice Spring and Queen Mary's College. This is our way of giving back to the local community using our expertise.”

Other ways to support your local community

Donating prizes to local groups or schools to help their fundraising efforts and sponsoring a local event or using your expertise to educate are other ways you can support the local community.

Sandford Springs Golf Club and Hotel actively collaborate with local organisations and community groups, particularly through supporting their fundraising efforts. They told us “In 2024, we donated approximately £8,000 worth of prizes to raffles, tombolas and silent auctions, benefitting both local and national charities.” And Julia from The Wellness Journey Centre says "I regularly donate free Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy sessions to raffles for local charity events and fundraisers."

Over the summer of 2024, Festival Place coordinated a number of green-fingered activities and workshops in partnership with the Beardy Gardener, Leigh Johnstone. Pupils from Marnel Junior, Park View Primary, Fairfields Primary, St Bede’s Catholic Primary, Winklebury Junior and Cliddesden Primary schools enjoyed a free in-school horticulture and art workshop, and then some children from each school attended a free interactive theatre show at The Anvil and a planting workshop at Festival Place.

Centre Director Vicky Hickson said: “With Festival Place being right at the heart of the town, it’s extremely important to us that we do our part to support the local community.

 “Throughout 2024 Festival Place supported 55 community groups, 11 charities and hosted 34 community events, supporting charities such as Basingstoke Foodbank, St Michael’s Hospice, Community Food Link and Football Shirts For Charity.”

Getting started

Wondering where to actually start? If you're a micro business then consider donating a prize to a local fundraiser or school raffle. Perhaps you can support one local charity. Smaller businesses might be able to offer work experience or introduce a volunteering day for their staff. If you run a larger business then look to create a formal corporate social responsibility programme so you can measure your social impact. 

This is by no means an exhaustive list and there are lots of local businesses doing amazing things. Let us know what your business is doing by emailing us at business@lovebasingstoke.co.uk

Written October 2025, updated August 2026