As an organisation operating in the health sector, BetterYou is acutely aware of the importance of good nutrition in the early years, and the reality faced by families experiencing poverty, displacement or crisis. Planet Mark certified since 2022, BetterYou’s community engagement initiative began with the belief that every child deserves the best possible start in life.
Three years ago, this belief led BetterYou to partner with Baby Basics, a charity providing families in need with essential items for newborns and young children. This was to be a long-term commitment offering time, volunteers and practical support.
From shared values to sustained action
Over the past three years, BetterYou has proudly offered consistent, hands-on support to Baby Basics as a core part of its community engagement programme. The initiative is structured around a commitment to two full days of employee volunteering each month, taking place at Baby Basics’ Sheffield-based warehouse. During these sessions, volunteers pack essential bundles for vulnerable families across the UK and internationally, providing dignity, care, and crucial support during times of crisis. Teams also provide operational and administrative help behind the scenes, ensuring Baby Basics can focus on delivering support where it’s needed most. Over the years, more than 100 BetterYou staff have participated in this initiative.
Delivering impact at scale
BetterYou’s partnership with Baby Basics has delivered tangible, life-changing results and it continues to grow in scale, passion and purpose. Impact is tracked through volunteering hours, product donations and feedback from Baby Basics, which allows BetterYou to understand what’s working and where support is most needed.
This programme received recognition, winning the Community Engagement category at the Planet Mark Awards in 2025.
Lessons from long-term engagement
BetterYou’s experience has reshaped how the business thinks about constructively working with the wider community. Moving beyond one-off volunteering opportunities required embedding support into the rhythm of the organisation. To support this, all employees are entitled to 12 paid volunteering days each year, ensuring teams have dedicated time to contribute to initiatives like this one.
Perhaps the biggest learning has been understanding the value of consistency for community partners and for employees themselves. Direct involvement has changed how teams think about responsibility, impact and the role they can play in supporting those most in need. Rather than treating community care as a side initiative, BetterYou has made it part of how the business operates, thereby demonstrating what long-term, purpose-led engagement can look like.
