Communities depend on Charities to provide vital services as well as the 'icing on the cake'. Increasingly groups of all sorts are taking part in fundraising to support their communities.

Alongside this companies large and small have atken part in fundraising and the question about Corporate Social Responsibility is being asked by Managers and Directors.

Ian Skinner, of Scottish Business in the Community, says "Businesses cannot exist in isolation.They depend on their communities for their customers, their workforce and their suppliers. Communities in this context can be either geographic or share a common interest. A good relationship with with the community simply makes sound business sense and is a key element in corporate social responsibility."

"Nowadays many company Annual Reports give prominence to corporate social responsibility in terms of environmental impact, procurement and marketing ethics, employment policies and social investment. Small and medium sized enterprises, private, public and social economy sector organisations - all can and should participate."

Charitable giving in the Borders has always been good maybe because the community likes to support itself and likes to support projects which help local people. The Macmillan Cancer Support £2m project to provide an MRI Scanner at Borders General Hospital was a prime example of this as the target was reached within two and a half years.

Organisations such as Business in the Community (www.sbcscot.com) provide advice and support for firms seeking to develop their CSR performance.

More information is available from:

Scottish Business in the Community Borders - i_skinner@btinternet.com

Macmillan Cancer Support - 01899 229059 dgrout@macmillan.org.uk