Community

The Rank Group makes significant contributions to the communities in which it operates through employment, social amenity and taxation.

Our strategy is to target investment at both a national and local level – through our support for a flagship charity with nationwide coverage that directs support to where it is needed locally.

In 2009 there was continued success in raising money for Whizz-Kidz, our national charity partner supported by Mecca Bingo and Meccabingo.com. Through the efforts and generosity of customers and employees, we beat our fundraising target and raised a total of £516,000 for Whizz-Kidz this year. Inventive campaigns were key to this success including:

• Mobiles for Mobility – £7,000 raised through customers donating old unwanted phones;
• Currency for Kidz – foreign coin recycling scheme and
• Heels for Wheels – our shoe recycling scheme launched by Theresa May MP and supported by local football teams, the Wigan Warriors rugby league team and a number of celebrities who all donated old shoes.

This year we also worked with the public sector on two campaigns of benefit to our customers. First, Mecca Bingo clubs hosted the Department of Work and Pensions’ Eyes Down for Extra Cash roadshows (to generate greater take-up of entitlements by eligible pensioners who are also Mecca customers). Second, NHS Patient roadshows took place in clubs across England to highlight the different ways that Mecca customers can access healthcare services.