Can a company play a social role? Can corporate decisions affect the well-being of the community in a broader sense, influencing the local area and the society that hosts and surrounds it?
If so, how can this positively impact the environment and workplace well-being?
Let's find out together what Territorial Welfare is and why collaboration between private individuals and local authorities is so important.
At a time when cities and regions are rethinking their operating paradigms, implementing or updating mobility systems, spaces, attractiveness strategies, sustainability, energy redevelopment, and inclusion, new ways of working are also necessary, creating a network of businesses and local authorities.
This is where territorial welfare comes into play.
Territorial Welfare is a branch of Corporate Welfare, which aims at social well-being and focuses on promoting social cohesion within specific local or territorial communities.
Territorial Welfare, however, is not limited exclusively to social policies and services at the national or regional level, but is based on the idea that solutions to social problems are often best addressed at the local level, taking into account the specific characteristics, resources, and needs of the communities themselves.
This approach therefore requires collaboration between different local institutions, such as municipal administrations, non-governmental organizations, voluntary associations, educational institutions, and local businesses.
These entities therefore work TOGETHER to identify the needs of the community and develop targeted strategies and interventions to improve the quality of life of the people living in that particular territory.
The objective of Territorial Welfare—as we will see in more detail below—is to create an integrated network of services and resources that can meet the needs of the community effectively and efficiently, while promoting social inclusion, active participation, and community cohesion.
A multi-level, multi-stakeholder governance structure, whether heterogeneous or homogeneous, can therefore implement local initiatives in the areas of employment, training, and personal and family services, with the aim of promoting both work-life balance and innovation.
Territorial Welfare initiatives can in fact include a wide range of services and programs, such as employment support, health and social care, education, culture, housing, childcare services, and much more.
However, there is often a tendency to confuse Territorial Welfare with corporate volunteering, which, despite sharing an undisputed social utility, are not the same thing.
Corporate volunteering is a form of volunteering in which companies encourage or allow their employees to devote time and resources to charitable or socially useful activities.
Such initiatives can take various forms, including involvement in local volunteer projects, participation in fundraising events, sponsorship of volunteer activities organized by non-profit organizations, etc.
Companies can encourage corporate volunteering by providing paid time off for volunteering, granting special leave, providing funding or resources for projects, organizing corporate volunteer events, or internal volunteer programs.
Corporate volunteering can bring numerous benefits to both companies and the communities in which they operate: it can improve corporate reputation, increase employee engagement and satisfaction, foster the development of transferable skills and leadership among employees, and contribute to the achievement of corporate social responsibility goals.
Corporate volunteering can also bring several benefits to communities, such as additional services and resources, the promotion of civic and social engagement, and a positive impact on local causes and issues.
Territorial Welfare and corporate volunteering are related but distinct concepts, both concerning social welfare and community engagement.
However, they differ significantly in their approaches, the actors involved, and their main objectives.
In terms of scope of intervention:
- Territorial Welfare focuses on promoting well-being and social cohesion within specific local or territorial communities.
- Corporate volunteering, on the other hand, focuses on involving a company's employees in volunteering and social engagement activities.
As for the “actors” involved:
- Territorial Welfare involves multiple entities, including public bodies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, local businesses, and more, all working together.
- Corporate volunteering, on the other hand, mainly involves company employees who dedicate their time and resources to volunteer initiatives or social projects.
As for the objectives:
- Territorial Welfare aims to improve well-being and quality of life within a specific community by promoting social inclusion, active participation, and community cohesion.
- Corporate volunteering focuses mainly on the use of company employees' resources and time for altruistic purposes, but also to improve the company's image.
In summary, while Territorial Welfare is characterized by a systemic approach aimed at improving social well-being within a community, corporate volunteering is a specific activity in which companies encourage their employees to devote time and resources to social engagement initiatives.
It may not be immediately obvious, but Territorial Welfare can also have a positive impact on environmental sustainability.
Territorial Welfare can include the promotion of sustainable practices within the community, such as the adoption of waste management policies, the implementation of renewable energy, the promotion of sustainable mobility, and the conservation of natural resources.
Territorial Welfare projects can include environmental education and awareness activities for the local community, which aim to promote awareness of environmental issues and encourage sustainable behavior among citizens.
Urban redevelopment projects can also improve the quality of life of both workers and residents and promote sustainability through the creation of green spaces, the redevelopment of brownfield sites, or the reduction of air and noise pollution.
Finally, Territorial Welfare can promote the creation of green jobs in the renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management, and other environmental sustainability-related sectors, thereby contributing to the sustainable economic growth of the community.
The concept of networking in the context of Territorial Welfare is of fundamental importance for a number of reasons.
1. Optimization of work
By working together, the parties involved can achieve results that would otherwise be difficult to achieve individually.
2. Optimization of resources
By leveraging the complementary skills of the organizations involved.
3. Expansion of the concept of well-being
By identifying the needs of the community more comprehensively and developing more suitable and comprehensive solutions.
4. Exchange of knowledge and best practices
By exchanging experiences and promoting change and mutual learning.
5. Long-term sustainability
By creating stable links between organizations and institutions and promoting ongoing collaboration and resource sharing.
Networking in the context of Territorial Welfare is therefore essential to maximize its effectiveness.
The implementation of Territorial Welfare programs is a way to respond to new social needs arising from a combination of ongoing demographic, economic, social, and cultural changes.
These developments have had a significant impact on the values and needs of the population, which now requires new solutions.
To this end, companies and public administrations can play a crucial role as generators of well-being.
Territorial welfare activates useful collaborations between multiple social actors, promoting the development and change of local organizational structures and respecting the characteristics of individual production contexts, even in deeply differentiated demographic fabrics.
Corporate and territorial welfare, in conjunction with smart working, also undoubtedly strengthen family support mechanisms.
Well-being
Promoting an improved corporate climate and a positive, supportive work environment also fosters team cohesion and productivity.
- Sustainability
Today, this is a key issue for businesses and institutions, in line with the UN's 2030 Agenda, which aims to achieve 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
- Inclusion
Sharing experiences and services that take diversity into account promotes a sense of community.
- Brand reputation
Participating in local welfare initiatives can improve the public perception of the company, demonstrating a tangible commitment to the well-being of the communities in which it operates.
According to The Guardian, 42% of workers would like to work for a company that has a positive impact on the world.
- Smart evolution through intelligent and flexible organization
Participating in local welfare initiatives can offer new opportunities for developing cross-cutting, personal, and professional skills, including leadership, problem solving, and time management.
- Efficiency
Local welfare is a concrete way to improve organizational processes, promoting creative dialogue between stakeholders in the network and implementing new initiatives and ways of working.
- Increased employee engagement
Offering employees opportunities to participate in volunteer projects and charitable initiatives can increase their sense of belonging to the company and their involvement in their work, reducing issues such as burnout syndrome and disaffection at work.
- Attracting and retaining talent
Companies that are also involved in local and territorial initiatives can prove more attractive to potential new employees, who evaluate not only the financial aspect of the company, but also its social and environmental impact.
In conclusion, the objectives of Territorial Welfare can be summarized in four points:
1- Launching a new way of experiencing the territory, assigning a new social role to businesses.
2- Encourage constructive dialogue between local companies and stakeholders to reevaluate the attractiveness and public policies of the territory.
3- Promote workshops, activities, and permanent hubs with the aim of fostering innovation in the workplace and collaboration.
4- Share, share, share.
Initiate an exchange of models and experiences to give rise to new scenarios and innovative ideas.