During 2009/10 approximately £13 million (2009/10: £11 million) was invested in support of community initiatives and relationships. The London Benchmarking Group model was used to assess this overall community investment.

Direct donations to charitable organisations amounted to £0.8 million (2009/10: £1.1 million).

In addition to our charitable donations, financial support was provided for our affordable warmth programme, education programme, university research and our Young Offenders Programme.

During 2010, we have extended our Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) charity partnership, as Premier Partner, for a further three years through to 2013. In 2011, we are launching the SOGB Sports Development Fund to enable grassroots sports clubs to gain funding to build capacity in the disability sports sector.

Our Young Offenders Programme, in association with the companies now involved, continues to be successful. The programme provides skills, training and employment for offenders nearing the end of their sentence.

In the US, our partnership with United Way continues to thrive. Throughout the year, our employees give up their time and money for the United Way campaign to help improve and provide assistance to communities throughout our service area. In 2010, we donated more than $3 million (£1.9 million) to the United Way campaign.