FROM STRANGERS TO COLLEAGUES: Evolving our approach to community engagement with London Youth BACKGROUND EVOLVING OUR APPROACH In 2022, we set out to 昀椀nd a partner that We started small and evolved to a multifaceted impact approach. would enable our teams at Azzurri Central to create stronger ties with our local communities. Donations Job and Life Skills Volunteering Internships With a central of昀椀ce based in London and a Team members from our Supply Our award winning Digital team Our teams volunteered 233 hours, and Work Experience growing team member base of young people, Chain and Finance department have signed up to support London equivalent to ~30 working days, we found an incredible synergy with London joined forces to raise £10,000 Youth’s annual Digital Talent to supporting London Youth. One Having learned from our experience Youth, a charity dedicated to empowering for London Youth by organising programme that supports young of our most in-demand activities of running Inspire Days, we are young people. London Youth operates a fundraisers in the of昀椀ce and people from underrepresented is helping London Youth maintain setting the groundwork to welcome network of over 400 community organisations running the Royal Parks Half backgrounds begin their careers in Woodrow High House, a facility our 昀椀rst London Youth interns in 2024. Marathon. We have also digital, data and tech sectors. that helps over 7,000 young people Adding to our roster of career entry helping tens of thousands of young people opportunities that have enabled 4 develop the con昀椀dence and skills needed to donated the equivalent of our Our teams host the ‘Digital Inspire’ a year experience the outdoors as interns to joins us in the past summer succeed and overcome barriers. annual team members’ Christmas portion of the programme, spending well as build con昀椀dence, resilience from 10,000 Black interns, Able and gifts to London Youth, helping a day sharing insights on all the ways and relationship skills. We sent Saltire programmes, as well as the 8 Together we work on promoting inclusive and provide 1,500 hot meals across that tech is deployed in the business, our most giving team member to work experience placements we have sustainable growth opportunities in the city. 20 youth centres during the what a typical day looks like and help out and our own Property run for secondary-aged students and We have channelled our teams’ goodwill into Christmas period. offering advice on how to get into department has further supported the 17 apprentices that are currently sustaining London Youth’s programmes, putting the sector. the Woodrow team with planning in training at Azzurri Central. successful maintenance projects. the ‘fun’ back in fundraisers for the charity and using volunteering days both to improve 1,500 40 233 8 team bonding and London Youth’s facilities. hot meals provided hours invested in hours volunteered work experience placements We have learned that we can be a positive delivering Azzurri’s force in our communities by facilitating young Digital Inspire programme people’s journey to their 昀椀rst job, assisting with 20 ~30 17 life skills training and creating employment youth centers work days apprentices in training opportunities. We are now preparing to welcome our 昀椀rst intern cohort from London Youth, welcoming as colleagues those young people that were strangers not so long ago. SUSTAINABLE DINING REPORT 2023 19