PwC in the Community

PwC Hive Hackers CI is a great example of living our Purpose, and leading by example.

The aim of PwC Hive Hackers CI is to develop and build trust in society here in the Channel Islands, by inspiring, encouraging and preparing children for a world of technology through exposure to innovative digital education.

The brainchild of Narelle Height, one of our amazing colleagues originally from PwC Northern Ireland, the vision of this programme is to develop the digital skill set of children as individuals so they become more confident contributors to society, the economy and the environment. With Narelle's help, we ran a pilot of PwC Hive Hackers CI with the wonderful Year 3 children at d'Auvergne School in Jersey, and we really hope we can deliver the programme to many more schools across both Guernsey and Jersey. Watch this video to witness the fun everyone had at d'Auvergne School.

We were really delighted to offer our support to CI Pride in the form of sponsorship of the Town Church illuminations, as well as the colourful painting of the Market Square steps in September 2020. It was a truly spectacular event as this video highlights.

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We're currently supporting a number of important talks in Guernsey, in collaboration with 'The HUB', which are aimed at parents and guardians. We've already held four such events at the Centre for Performing Arts on such topics as 'Growing up online in Guernsey', and the positive influence parents can have on their children's self-esteem. All evenings had an excellent turnout with lots of positive media coverage and parental feedback generated as a result.

On Wednesday 26 September 2018, the impact of trauma on children’s resilience was covered. It covered the impact of trauma on children’s resilience. When we talk about trauma, this could be a separation, bereavement, a serious accident, anything that could affect the way children are able to manage situations in later life. This event was held in partnership with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

PwC is proud to have supported the Guernsey Community Awards since 2017 sponsoring the Outstanding Individual Achievement Category. Awarded to a person who has demonstrated innovation, teamwork, passion and integrity throughout their involvement, and who has produced an identifiable profound effect on a charity or voluntary organisation through their work and/or leadership.

On the sporting front, as part of our community engagement programmes, we’re also long-term supporters of the Jersey netball academies. When given the opportunity to attend inspiring days packed with full-on netball coaching and well-deserved awards for the players who make up the PwC Netball Academies on the Island. The Jersey Netball Association enables fabulous netball seasons for lots of talented young girls in Jersey.

PwC is delighted by the Jersey Primary Football Festival annually taking place around the Easter break. In 2019 the festival was the longest running of its kind in the British Isles, with the first one having been held way back in 1974. Teams with parents and coaches travel from across the UK to take part in football matches and team-building activities during the Easter school holidays.

The festival has long been regarded as the pinnacle of under 11 football and has an important role to play in developing the aspirations of the Island’s young players. Every primary school on the Island is involved in primary school football, so we’re looking at a figure of about 700 children to start with, all of whom have an opportunity to trial for the festival over the months leading up to the event. It’s a great achievement for those local children selected to represent Jersey and follows the culmination of practice and hard work during the inter-school league programme. 

Of course it’s not just about victories. Paul Silcock commented: “We see the festival as a great example of the quality of work done in youth sport on the Island and it’s fantastic for Jersey’s reputation as a tourism and sporting destination, as well as for the children participating. It’s encouraging to see them playing well, enjoying their games and making new friends. We’re also proud to play a small part helping to embed the right behaviours and attitudes in the young football stars of the future, whilst highlighting some of the excellent work being done in junior football here in Jersey.” 

He added, “We really enjoy witnessing how all these young and energetic football enthusiasts develop their sporting talent, as well as their self-confidence and teamwork skills, during the week-long festival.” Festival organiser, Pat Cullinane, adds: “We are immensely grateful for the support from PwC. The event is more than just a football festival for the children attending. Each year, they also go on outings and activities in the afternoons. This builds their confidence and gives them opportunities to make new connections and forge new friendships with other teams that last long after they return home.”

The second ever PwC Charity Cycle Challenge, 'Ride the Nation aimed to link the 31 PwC UK offices and all 23,000 staff from across the UK network, from Aberdeen to Plymouth and from the Channel Islands to Northern Ireland.

Ride the Nation 2015 remains the single largest event of its kind the UK firm has embarked upon, raising over £150,000 for The PwC Foundation and charities local to each and every office in the UK network, with over 700 staff taking part on their bikes with support from all grades of staff in all offices nationwide.

The event was conceived and continues to be organised and run solely by PwC staff, to demonstrate the firms ethos of doing the right thing in our communities, what can be achieved when we work together as One Firm and to physically connect us all in a way that, before May 2015, had never been done before.

PwC CI Director James de Veulle, regional Ride the Nation champion for PwC in the Channel Islands, said:

“It’s great to see so many of our CI team joining in this ambitious nationwide challenge. Whether it’s getting in the saddle to cycle the distance, fundraising or simply cheering colleagues on, it gives us all the opportunity to raise much needed funds for our own chosen charities as well as our network’s PwC Foundation, supporting our local community and making a difference to a lot of people’s lives.”

Here locally, Ride the Nation 2017 raised funds for Jersey Charity 'Acorn' and 'The Guilles Alles Childrens' Library' in Guernsey.

Our support of the ‘PwC Learn to Swim’ programme in partnership with Le Mourier swim school, is one of our most successful community projects in Jersey. The initiative provides ten free swimming lessons to all children of reception class age, and is offered to all interested schools. It builds children’s confidence, both in the water and socially too, and gives them an opportunity to accomplish a skill that they may not otherwise get. As our relationship with Le Mourier has evolved, we’ve also identified certain PwC staff who can’t swim. We had about ten employees attend swimming lessons together on a Monday evening after work with Le Mourier, so they can really embrace island life in summer – so everyone’s a winner!

PwC in Guernsey is proud to continue lending it's support to Male Uprising Guernsey (MUG). The focus of MUG is to increase awareness and promote education around the symptoms and treatment of prostate, bowel and testicular cancers. Funds raised are also used to improve the diagnosis and care of local men suffering with male cancers.

MUG aims to get men, whatever their age, to be more confident, outgoing and questioning of their health symptoms. Most importantly, MUG encourages men to seek medical advice and assistance at the earliest opportunity. Most recently, some of our Guernsey chaps got their legs out daily during Bermuda shorts week in aid of the brilliant work done at MUG.

PwC is proud to support the Guernsey Hockey academies since 2006 and it's a relationship which continues to flourish.  At these academies, the coaches strive to ensure that sessions are fun, engaging for the players and inclusive and it's great to see that  the girls are firmly on the same pathway as the boys. Also, with lots of disciplined sportsmen and women now working for PwC on the Islands, there’s always demand for them to share their skills by taking part in a Sunday morning coaching session or giving a talk to the next generation of sporting enthusiasts on what it takes to be a real team player.

We're delighted to be one of the sponsors for this digital drama week targeted at upskilling young people between the ages of 16 and 25, where they have the opportunity to join a 5 day event of learning new skills, building confidence and meeting new people. Those who attend will have the chance to:

• Be part of a new and exciting programme at no charge to them.
• Develop a variety of digital and performance skills.
• Collaborate to create and present a visual project.
• Promote positive mental health.
• Improve their confidence, communication and teamwork.
• Have access to a professional team supporting them through the process.