Social Value Leaders’ Summit 2025

The UK’s largest charitable social enterprise leisure provider, GLL, will add Westminster Boating Base to its ever-growing list of water facilities when it takes on its management and operations on behalf of the Westminster Boating Base charity from 1 March 2025, following an agreement struck with the charity’s trustees.   GLL operates facilities under its 'Better' brand. The new arrangements will ensure the Pimlico-based charity will continue to be able to meet its charitable objectives to help educate and develop young people and improve lives for many years to come. It will also ensure the Base retains its unique identity and role in the community. Westminster Boating Base offers unrivalled safe and supervised access to the water for local school children who can use its pontoon to get out on the River Thames in kayaks and sailing dinghies. There will be no immediate change to the programme in 2025 under GLL’s expert management. The charitable social enterprise already operates successful water-based facilities in Lee Valley, Hackney, Welwyn Hatfield, Bedford, Manchester, Wales and Cumbria. GLL’s Partnership Manager Katie Foulger said: "We are delighted to add Westminster Boating Base to our ever-growing list of open water facilities - which include an Olympic Canoe Slalom course, Cumbrian and Welsh lakes, a reservoir in Hackney – as well as six lidos.   "Children learn valuable life skills, grow in confidence and thrive through active play and sport.  With the support of the sailing and kayaking experts here, all are assured of the best experience in the capital." "Taking the Base into our GLL family will secure its future for years to come for local children and schools as well as grant access to our Foundations, expertise and 34 years of industry-leading experience – all backed by the strong social values that our brands stand for." Nestled on the banks of the River Thames, Westminster Boating Base also boasts one of London’s most distinctive event venues, offering unparalleled riverside views from its elegant wrap-around balcony.  Already a sought-after destination for weddings, private parties and community events, the venue is now poised for an exciting new chapter under the management of GLL. With a strategic focus on expanding its events programme, Westminster Boating Base will further cement its reputation as a central premium event space while generating essential revenue to support its charitable and youth development initiatives.  GLL’s Head of National Events, Daniel Le Grange commented:  “Westminster Boating Base is an exceptional venue, combining breathtaking Thames views with a versatile and stylish setting. "We are committed to delivering high-end, premium events from conferences to corporate functions to exclusive private parties. "Every event hosted here not only benefits from an extraordinary backdrop but also plays a direct role in supporting the Base’s invaluable community and youth programmes.”  Westminster Boating Base's bookings and facility information are made available via the the website and the better_uk app. Nigel Berman, Chair of Trustees at Westminster Boating Base charity said: “This new partnership with GLL ensures our charitable objectives can be delivered while we retain our unique identity and role in the community. “We look forward to working with GLL to improve outcomes for young people and put the Base on a sustainable financial footing going forward.” GLL will continue the strong relationship built up with clubs and volunteers at the Base. GLL's water-based facilities: Westminster Boating Base, Pimlico Debdale Outdoor Centre, Manchester Lee Valley White Water Centre, Waltham Cross Blue Peris Outdoor Centre, Gwynedd Ghyll Head Activity Centre, Cumbria West Reservoir Centre, Hackney Jesus Green Lido, Cambridge London Fields Lido, Hackney Charlton Lido, Greenwich Abbey Meadows Lido, Oxfordshire Finchley Lido, Barnet Hillingdon Lido and Leisure Centre, Uxbridge better.org.uk

The Living Pension is a new Living Wage Foundation accreditation for employers who want to help workers boost their pension pots. Clean for Good is an award-winning ethical cleaning company and has become the first cleaning company in the UK to become a Living Pension Employer. Clean for Good has recently accredited as a Living Pension Employer. As an early adopter of the Living Pension, their commitment will see all of their employees offered regular pension savings equal to 12% of their wages, including a generous 8% employer contribution. This will ensure that their workers are more likely to retire with a ‘living pension’. Clean for Good is a pioneering company setting new standards in the UK cleaning sector. It was one of the first cleaning companies in the UK to become a fully accredited Living Wage Employer and a B-Corp, It was the first to adopt the Fair Tax Mark. Today it is the first UK cleaning company to become a Living Pension Employer. Clean for Good is a different kind of cleaning company, established as a social business to provide a fairer deal for cleaners and to drive change in a sector that is infamous for low pay and poor conditions. The Living Pension accreditation, awarded by the Living Wage Foundation, is a voluntary savings target for employers who want to help workers, especially those on low pay, build up a pension pot that will provide enough income to meet basic everyday needs in retirement. It launched in March 2023. A Living Pension Employer must meet a pension savings target of 12% of a full time Living Wage worker’s salary, including a minimum 7% employer contribution. Clean for Good is providing an 8% employer contribution, asking employees to provide just 4%, delivering a dignified pension at a low cost to employees. The scheme is voluntary for employees, who can opt in if they wish to benefit. The Living Pension builds on auto-enrolment, which requires a minimum 8% pension savings, with employers contributing at least 3% and workers paying the remaining 5%. (The Living Pension savings target can also be met as a cash amount of £2,950 a year, to which the employer must contribute at least £1,720). The rise in Employer National Insurance contributions from April 2025 has undoubtedly increased the costs for business, especially for a ‘people-business’ like Clean for Good. Yet even in these challenging times, Clean for Good believes that continuing to invest in its people, through initiatives like the Living Pension, is the best way to improve its services to customers. Clean for Good pays the Living Wage, offers occupational Sick Pay and now a Living Pension because it believes that what is good for workers can be good for business. Charlie Walker, Clean for Good’s Managing Director said: “We want to provide our cleaners with a living wage both at work and into retirement. We believe cleaning, in and of itself, is a dignified job and career. So, if you choose to work with Clean for Good we want to honour that, to invest in you, and pay a fair wage both now and after you retire. This is the right thing to do” Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “We are delighted that Clean for Good has signed up as a Living Pension employer, providing stability and security for their workers now and in the future. Over the last ten years the Living Wage campaign has grown in strength and numbers. Now paid by over 15,000 employers, it delivers essential pay rises to 460,000 workers every year. The Living Pension builds on this by encouraging employers like Clean for Good to do more to help their workers build a pension pot that meets basic everyday needs in retirement.” Christine Ellis, a cleaner employed at Clean for Good said: “I feel strongly that the Living Pension is a great way to build on my savings funds for retirement alongside the Living Wage standard scheme that has been put into great effect. With the contributions from my employer and me as the employee I could reach my target to live within an acceptable standard when retired." cleanforgood.co.uk

Low Carbon Hub has re-opened its Community Energy Fund, giving you the chance to invest in local, renewable energy projects that benefit both the planet and your pocket. Since November 2024, over £500,000 has already been raised but our target is £800,000 by the end of March 2025, which will allow us to make an even bigger impact. Your investment will support: More community-owned renewable energy projects. Cut carbon emissions and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Growth of funding that supports local communities. Join nearly 2,000 investor members, earn a target return of up to 5%, all while helping to speed up the transition to a cleaner, greener energy system. Find out more and invest in the Community Energy Fund: lowcarbonhub.org/invest Capital at risk; returns not guaranteed. About Low Carbon Hub Low Carbon Hub is an award-winning social enterprise that’s out to prove we can meet our energy needs in a way that’s good for people and good for the planet. We develop community-owned renewable energy projects across Oxfordshire, help homes and businesses reduce their energy demand, and run innovative energy trials to help accelerate the transition to a net zero energy system. 100% of project surplus is reinvested into further carbon-cutting initiatives. Last year we hit a key milestone of reinvesting £1 million of their project surplus into community benefit. Backed by over £10 million in investment, they manage 55 renewable energy projects including: Rooftop solar on schools and businesses The largest community-owned ground mount solar park The largest community-owned hydro at Sandford. Find out more about their work: lowcarbonhub.org