One of the key elements of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is ensuring inclusiveness and equality for every person, everywhere. As part of our Net Zero by 2040 strategy, we have committed to science-based targets for 2030 with a focus on supporting communities through programmes that enhance access to education, inclusion and employment.
That is why we partner with organisations such as Business in the Community (BITC) to support initiatives like Time to Read and Time to Count. Both programmes provide primary school children in second class with reading and numeracy skills with support from an ESB volunteer over a 20-week period. The programmes aim to increase the enjoyment of, and confidence in, these essential skills whilst encouraging self-discovery and comprehension for all participating children.
We have been a long-term supporter of this programme with hundreds of staff volunteering in local schools. This is part of our commitment to ensuring an inclusive and equitable society which enables quality education and promotes lifelong learning. In 2023, 67 ESB employees volunteered more than 1,900 hours on these initiatives, supporting 134 students nationwide.
75 staff members also recently completed their training and will now each work with two children to help improve and gain confidence in their reading and numeracy skills. We have volunteered in St Patrick’s and St Kevin’s schools in Dublin for 10 years, and now work with students from Scoil Chaitríona, St. Mary’s and Queen of Angels (all Dublin-based) as well as Glasheen Girls National School in Co Cork.
We also participate in BITC’s ‘Skills at Work’ initiative where we help prepare secondary school students (2nd year) for the world of work and Skills@Work which focuses on supporting Transition Year students on CV and interview advice along with a visit to one of our sites.
These are just some of the many initiatives we support as part of our wider Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. We are also a partner of Engineers Ireland’s STEPS programme which promotes science, technology, engineering and maths in a practical way among children and teenagers. As part of this, our employees deliver a range of talks and workshops in schools right across the country.
For more information about the initiatives we support as part of our CSR programme, visit here.