Community investment
Our community investment programmes seek to establish and maintain relationships that contribute to communities where our employees live and work. These programmes must be mutually beneficial and deliver long term sustainable benefits.
Australia
Our key Western Australian partnerships and community programmes are outlined below or you can find out more by visiting our dedicated community investment website http://www.ciwa.riotinto.com/.
In Western Australia, we support a wide range of projects and partnerships through two programmes - the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund and the Pilbara Community Partnerships Programme.
The Rio Tinto WA Future Fund manages strategic partnerships to deliver long term statewide projects. We currently support 10 major partnerships and in 2008 distributed $2.6 million across Western Australia. The WA Future Fund also manages a small number of major sponsorships.
The regional Community Partnerships Programme focuses on creating partnerships with local communities in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This programme distributed $1.78 million to 30 partners in 2008 in areas ranging from the conservation of local wildlife to promoting healthy living among school children.
To complement the Pilbara Community Partnerships Programme, Community Officers in each town manage small donations and sponsorships. Grass roots sponsorship and donations focus on areas such as extra-curricular education, sports and recreation, arts and culture as well as other community-based initiatives aimed at improving community spirit in the towns.
In 2008, 183 small projects were supported by Rio Tinto in the Pilbara. A complete list of community contributions over $10,000 is available at our community investment website.
Canada
Our operations in Canada also have a long tradition of community support.
The Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) actively supports a wide range of activities that benefit the communities in which we operate, such as health, social and cultural initiatives. IOC employees care passionately about their local communities, providing their time to keep clubs and volunteer organisations running, undertaking fundraising activities, and participating in group events to raise funds and awareness for causes close to their hearts.
Working directly with the community in an intergal part of IOC's culture. We have been partnering with the communities of Labrador City and Sept-Îles for more than five decades and hope to be around for that many more. We actively participate in many community services including social and recreational centres and palliative care centres.
Simandou
We have invested more than US$45 million in the sustainable development of the regions surrounding our Simandou project to support community development, protection of the environment and public infrastructure.
In nearby villages, Rio Tinto is working with non governmental organisations and other partners to support community programs. This includes health prevention, the creation of local businesses, as well as empowering local authorities and village communities to conduct their own improvement projects in the future.
