WaterAid’s mission aligns to the United Nation’s Strategic Development Goal (SDG) 6. The SDG goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Goal 6 is one of the most interconnected goals – improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) aids economic development, poverty reduction, education, health and more.
We are currently working with WaterAid on a three-year project in Rwanda, where sadly almost two-thirds of all primary and secondary schools lack clean water.
Together, we’ve been building rainwater harvesting tanks & toilet blocks, and delivering hygiene change workshops to school children and teachers – creating a lasting and impactful change. We are half way through a project in the districts of Bugesera and Nyamagabe, Rwanda and making huge progress!
Since the start of our relationship with WaterAid in 2014, we have contributed £846,357.83 through corporate donations and fundraising from employees and their families, friends and market colleagues - we have run marathons, trekked, sung, told jokes at comedy nights and more.
48,298
People supplied with clean water
7,198
People provided with decent toilets
5,740
People helped with good hygiene
WaterAid’s emergency response to COVID-19
Our communities
Unfortunately, many events this year have been postponed due to COVID-19, including Liberty’s annual Curryoke event in support of WaterAid, WaterAid’s Trek Nepal and the London Marathon.
WaterAid launched an emergency COVID-19 public appeal to scale up their work globally. Good hygiene and clean water are the first line of defence against COVID-19 but millions of people do not have clean water in their homes, schools or health centres to protect themselves from the spread of disease and confront pandemics.
This has been at the core of WaterAid’s work for almost 40 years, so this is an opportunity for them to really put their expertise into action.
To find out more information about the emergency appeal, please visit their website.
Watch the video about WaterAid’s mission and our project in Rwanda.
Our communities
Our 2020 WaterAid events
Lunch & Learn with Ernest Randriarimalala, WaterAid Voices from the Field Officer
Lunch & Learn with Ernest Randriarimalala, WaterAid Voices from the Field Officer
It might not be possible to take everyone from Liberty to see WaterAid’s work overseas; but the next best thing is having their Voices from the Field Officer, Ernest Randriarimalala, come and visit 20 Fenchurch Street.
Ernest came and presented the importance of WaterAid’s lifesaving work, and shared his own personal experiences of life before having access to water in Madagascar.
Voices from the Field Officer, Ernest Randriarimalala.
Liberty vs WaterAid Netball challenge
Liberty and WaterAid came together for our first corporate vs charity netball challenge. It was a brilliant opportunity to build on relationships and boost awareness of the work that we are doing together, and great fun!
Employees taking part in a charity netball match with our global charity partner, WaterAid.
Images from WaterAid's work
Image of our project work in Rwanda. Photographer James Kiyimba.
COVID-19 awareness messaging on mobile vans. This is in selected districts, for hard to reach communities where cable/ radio coverage is not possible.
WaterAid Papau New Guinea have created an open space for the community to share where they see opportunities to fight COVID-19 through a national awareness campaign.
Image of our project work in Rwanda. Photographer James Kiyimba.
COVID-19 awareness messaging on mobile vans. This is in selected districts, for hard to reach communities where cable/ radio coverage is not possible.
Officially Amazing
709 Global employees at Liberty Specialty Markets have set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the largest online video chain passing a water bottle in support of WaterAid. The new world record raised a total of £1,500 for WaterAid. The previous world record was 464 people.
Watch this video to learn more
Trek Tanzania
In 2019, eight trekkers from Liberty Specialty Markets took on the almighty task of trekking across Tanzania for WaterAid. Between them they raised over £17,000, which including LSM’s contribution, totals a phenomenal £34,100 for WaterAid.
“The entire experience was challenging, fun, exhilarating & humbling in equal measures, and I am hugely grateful for the opportunity to take part - definitely memories for a lifetime!” - Jvaria Sheikh
Virtual Comedy Night
On 28 January 2021 Liberty Specialty Markets’ annual comedy night returned as a virtual event, featuring MC Robyn Perkins, and star comedians, Rhys James and Stephen Bailey. The event was a great success and raised £4845, which was matched by the UK Government Aid, bringing the total to almost £10k! There was also a brilliant turn out with over 350 people tuning in from across Liberty’s global offices.
Useful links
Our communities
Corporate Social Responsibility framework helps us to focus our activities where we believe we can make a difference.
Supporting the arts
At Liberty Specialty Markets, we believe in supporting a vibrant and sustainable future for the art sector.
COVID-19
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we donated to a range of charities which were providing direct assistance to those most vulnerable.