As well as being an opportunity to promote environmentally responsible practices, events can also serve as a platform for other actions that will positively impact our communities. If you’re wanting to consider how you can meet your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals whilst hosting events, you may wish to consider the following ideas that come under the social and governance pillars of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG).
Cambridge offers a unique range of CSR and volunteering opportunities that can be seamlessly integrated into your event. Whether you want hands‑on activities, community impact, or sustainability alignment, we connect you with trusted partners who deliver meaningful experiences.
Social
Below are a few ideas to help you make a positive social impact in Cambridge:
Meet Up & Make a Difference is a positive impact campaign led by Meet Cambridge, involving the events community: clients, venues and suppliers to raise funds and supplies for those in need in our city.
With over 50 of our venues already on board, your event can be a lifeline to those in need. Get involved today and help us make a real impact to those communities who are struggling. Read all the details.
Meet Cambridge are members of the With Purpose Network (WPN). We can help you connect with many different local charities, often with synergy to your own ESG values, to explore ideas about how your event might be able to help them.
Money is not always the best way to support charities, and many local organisations are in need of time and skills.
Volunteering to help with a project, whether that be a traditional makeover or clean-up day or by offering marketing, press, or digital support, gives the charity time and skills they might not have. Your business skills are in demand!
Governance
The governance pillar of ESG is far less spoken about. It relates more to how an organisation might imbed positive environmental and social practices into their ethos through policies, procedures and values.
In event terms, if you are considering your organisation’s values and using any existing ESG guidelines to inform your event planning, you will be on the right path.
A helpful tool to consider is the "Impact Framework" provided by MeetEngland, as shown below. We readily recognise the economic impacts of events, but not so much the range of other positive impacts an event can have for the destination. There are 7 further recognised impacts, that also link back to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
To achieve positive outcomes such as those listed below, think about the objectives of your event and the values your organisation holds. How can your event positively benefit a cause or initiative your organisation feels strongly about?
For help with planning an impactful event, contact the Meet Cambridge team via enquiries@meet-cambridge.com.
