IBM’s Women’s Leadership Team
A 5-day project for 20 IBM’ers to support the development of female talent and make a major contribution to a community in need.
The Women's Leadership Team at IBM engages women from diverse parts of the organisation in support of the development of female talent. One opportunity for female IBM'ers is to take part in an annual community project, 'Building Futures’, that is designed to have a compelling impact on the participants from IBM and on the community in equal doses. We set up the 2008 project in partnership with Pathways Community Interest Company, a social enterprise in Crewe committed to improving health and wellbeing in the most deprived communities. Pathways saw the potential to involve the IBM women in the launch of the Skills & Wellbeing Centre in the heart of Crewe's most socially isolated community, where life expectancy is 7 years lower than in Crewe's most prosperous area. The project was a challenging and intense 5 days of refurbishing the property in time for the launch of the centre on the 5th day, engaging with the local community and sharing basic work skills with local residents.
"What the IBM ladies have given us is a resource which can, and will, literally transform the lives of people in our community. The centre will help eliminate the inequalities which blight our community and help our community to gain access to life's rewards that others take for granted. What a fabulous gift. Since opening, the centre has supported 5 long term unemployed residents to find work, offered a variety of community events including homework and school holiday clubs, pamper days for local women, and a Christmas party for local older people. It is estimated the centre to date has saved the public purse in excess of £150,000"
Yvonne Clarke, Joint Chief Executive, Pathways Community Interest Company