We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded the bronze level Social Value Quality Mark® in recognition of our efforts to drive change and create opportunities here in Milton Keynes.
What is the Social Value Quality Mark?
Social Value Quality Mark® CIC is an independent social enterprise that challenges rigour, celebrates high standards and drives local initiatives. The purpose of the Quality Mark is to cultivate and recognise the highest known standards in values-led business, working towards raising overall business standards in the UK to become more ethical, sustainable and community focussed.
What does this mean for Lucid Support Services and Lucid Connect?
This prestigious certification highlights our strategic commitment across eight critical areas of corporate social responsibility: Environmental, Criminal & Justice, Housing, Education, Economic, Health & Wellbeing, Employment & Volunteering and Social & Community.
At Lucid, we understand our business plays an integral role in the local community as well as nationally. That’s why we’ve outlined specific pledges to make a positive impact on these important issues.
For example, we’re sponsoring the planting of new trees annually in the National Forest to support local wildlife habitats, sustainability and reduce our carbon footprint. We aim to be an inclusive and supportive employer, not only are we launching a new recruitment trainee programme to open up career paths for Milton Keynes, but we are also investing and taking steps to improve the support we offer our staff with health and mental wellbeing.
Giving back to our community is a core part of Lucid’s identity. We actively support national and local charities through fundraising days, direct donations, and creative initiatives. For example, this month we have sponsored two staff members in their fundraising efforts for Mind UK, we pledged to match their donations for completing an Ultra Challenge which saw Lucid donating an additional £1000. We also commit annual donations to Willen Hospice generated from our internal vending machine and pool table. Supporting impactful charities not only spreads awareness of important causes, but also allows our employees to rally around shared values and experience the fulfilment of uplifting others.
Through the Social Value Quality Mark® the independent Quality Mark, we have pledged to create measures and independently audit our performance against our social value pledges. We are holding ourselves accountable to these goals and demonstrating our mission to lead by example on social matters. Whether through volunteering days, charity donations, local procurement, or community partnerships, we aim to create opportunity and brighten lives in Milton Keynes and beyond.
Managing Director of both Lucid Support and Lucid Connect – Alun Jones “This recognition motivates us to keep innovating new ways to strengthen our hometown. We have bold plans to increase our charitable giving by 20% annually, reduce waste through green office initiatives, and continue diversifying our workforce. The Social Value Quality Mark validates the efforts of our entire team to integrate social responsibility into everything we do. Together, we can build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for Milton Keynes residents and businesses. I could not be prouder of what we have achieved so far”.
Why was it important for us to achieve this Social Value Quality Mark?
It is important for us to lead by example in our local community and demonstrate a higher standard of value focused business leadership. We are trying to set a positive example that other businesses can follow and pave the way for more conscious capitalism by showing these practices positively impact the bottom line by creating meaningful change on important social and environmental issues. Every pledge, from planting trees to hiring inclusively, makes the community healthier and more sustainable and by directly investing and supporting the community we are enhancing our company reputation within Milton Keynes.
