The O2 businesses aim to provide conditions in which their actions in the community can make a tangible difference.
Each business has charity partnerships and projects that can interest employees at every level to get involved in local volunteering.
These include:
• O2 UK - Just Ask Me, for Weston Spirit.
• Airwave - the National Trust and the BTCV - a volunteering organisation for environmental conservation.
• O2 Germany - Schola-21, startsocial, Kinder bewegen and the Central Elbe nature World Wide Fund For Nature project.
• O2 Ireland - Irish Autism Action.
• Telefónica O2 Czech Republic - O2 Foundation volunteering programme.
• Manx Telecom - Young Enterprise.
We are also active in schools in the UK, Ireland and Germany in long-term associations and mentoring schemes. These include working with Her Majesty's Prison Service in the UK to steer youngsters away from crime. In Germany employees act as mentors to high-performing female students and teenagers from socially deprived areas.
We want to recognise O2 employees in action in the community. We know this work often demonstrates compassion as well as dedication that far exceeds our expectations in the workplace.
O2 launched its Community Awards in 2004 and held its third event, at London's British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), in October 2006.
This year the accolades were presented in three categories, with finalists representing all O2 operating businesses this year.
• Swantje Hartmann of O2 Germany was awarded the Fit for Life award, which recognises employees whose voluntary work benefits grassroots activity projects, such as sports groups and youth clubs, for her work with young people in the community of Delmenhorst, Germany. Swantje supports the project 'Faustlos' for less violence in schools and kindergartens.
• Jason Corbett of O2 Ireland won the At Home award - an accolade that recognises fundraising or community activity for a charitable organisation in the employee's home country. This was for his work with Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, which is Ireland's National Children's Hospital.
• Ghouse Fazaluddin of O2 Airwave won the International Award for employee contributions to charitable organisations or disaster relief outside the individual's country of residence. Ghouse raised more than £80,000 for the Imdad Fund, which provided relief for victims of the Asian earthquake in 2005.
The winners all received a £5,000 donation from O2 for their chosen charity. Fellow finalists - 10 in all - received £1,000 each for their chosen charities.
