We help our local and global communities thrive by contributing to their success.
RELX Cares, our global community programme, supports employee volunteering and giving that makes a positive impact on society.
The mission of RELX Cares is education for disadvantaged young people that advances one or more of our unique contributions as a business, including protection of society and reducing inequalities, advancing science and improving health outcomes, furthering the Rule of Law and access to justice and fostering communities. Employees have up to two days’ paid leave per year for their own community work. A network of over 245 RELX Cares Champions ensures the vibrancy of our community engagement.
In 2024, we held the 14th Recognising Those Who Care Awards to highlight colleagues who have made outstanding contributions to RELX Cares. The eight winners of the individual award travelled to Ghana to take part in volunteering projects with our charity partner Book Aid International. Two other individuals and two teams were given the opportunity to make a donation to the charity of their choice. In August, 35 employees volunteered at the Paralympics in Paris. Their roles included welcoming the athletes and visitors and assisting with logistics.
Each September, we hold RELX Cares Month to celebrate our commitment to our communities around the world. During the Month, over 4,100 colleagues across the Company took part in hundreds of volunteering and fundraising events, including RELX employees in the UK who renovated a playground for children with disabilities; colleagues from LexisNexis Risk Solutions in Italy who prepared meals for vulnerable people; Elsevier colleagues in the US who made cards for sick children and RX China who worked with a charity that provides horse riding for children with special needs.
Giving
Our central donations programme aligns with the RELX Cares mission. Employees serve as sponsors for charities seeking funding, which must in turn indicate how they help further one or more of RELX’s unique contributions as a business including protection of society and reducing inequalities, advancing science and improving health outcomes, furthering the Rule of Law and access to justice and fostering communities.
RELX Cares Champions vote on submissions using decision criteria such as value to the beneficiary and opportunities for staff engagement. In 2024, RELX Cares Champions donated $332,934 to 28 charities supporting over 43,000 young people.
Projects included:
- Creating toilet cubicles and handwashing stations for a remote school in Nepal
- Upskilling young refugees in the Netherlands with web development training to help them gain employment
- Helping underprivileged children in poverty-stricken areas of Quezon City in The Philippines
In managing community involvement, we apply the same rigour as we do to other aspects of our business. Following the B4SI methodology – a global standard for measuring and reporting corporate community investment – we conduct an annual Group Community Survey with RELX Accounting Services and RELX Cares Champions. It divides our aggregate giving into short-term charitable gifts, ongoing community investment and commercial initiatives of direct business benefit.
We donated £5m in cash (including through matching gifts), and £18m in products, services and staff time in 2024. Some 37% of employees were engaged in volunteering through RELX Cares. According to 2024 B4SI data, the average volunteering rate was 22.1% for our sector and 21.6% for all sectors.
In 2024, we continued to engage in skills-based volunteering, applying business knowledge and expertise to benefit communities. For example, in the UK, a colleague from LexisNexis Legal & Professional delivered our training course, Introduction to the Law (England and Wales) to staff from the Access to Justice Foundation, which aims to increase the availability of quality legal advice and support.
We also encouraged in-kind contributions, such as product and equipment donations, aligned with our Product Donation Policy (available at www.relx.com/cr-downloads), which included books, access to content, and discounted charity rates for some products.
Engagement
In 2024, we continued to provide opportunities for colleagues to get involved in RELX Cares. In monthly calls for RELX Cares Champions across the company, we provided updates about RELX Cares activities and offered Champions an opportunity to share best practice and learn from their peers.
To launch our global RELX Cares Month in September, we showcased examples of volunteering from across the business.
During the Month, we ran our Global Book Drive competition with employees donating over 1,000 books for local charities.Impac
In accordance with the B4SI model, we monitor the short- and long-term benefits of the projects with which we are involved. We ask beneficiaries to report on their progress to increase transparency and engagement.
Impact
In accordance with the B4SI model, we monitor the short- and long-term benefits of the projects with which we are involved.
We ask beneficiaries to report on their progress to increase transparency and engagement.
In addition, we survey RELX Cares volunteers on the impact the programme has on their work following each volunteer activity.
In 2024, we received over 17,900 responses, 91% of respondents said their motivation and pride in RELX had increased as a result of volunteering and 90% said they had experienced a positive change in behaviour or attitude as a result of volunteering.
Jeffrey P Mladenik and Andrew Curry-Green Memorial Scholarship
As a lasting memorial to our colleagues Jeffrey Mladenik and Andrew Curry-Green, who lost their lives on 9/11, we offer scholarships in their name to children of eligible employees.
Shriya Manikonda daughter of Anitha Manikonda, Senior Business Analyst for Risk in Atlanta, is passionate about volunteering and has dedicated over 1,000 hours to community service during her time in high school. She was involved in a variety of societies and clubs including Future Health Professionals and the National Honor Society, where she held leadership positions. She was also an active member in DECA – an association of marketing students, Science National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, National Beta Club, MD Junior, National Technical Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and Rho Kappa. Shriya has placed at international and state levels in relevant events. Shriya is attending the University of Georgia pursuing her aspiration of becoming a dentist.
Alexander Van Dyke son of Alice Tank, Telephonic Account Executive for Legal, is studying psychology at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. Following his graduation he hopes to pursue his interest in psychology research in graduate school.
At Lawrence he has pursued research opportunities in psychology, with specific interests in social and health psychology.
Alexander is a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society and co-president of the campus rock climbing club. An honours graduate of Edina High School in Minnesota, he achieved the biliteracy gold seal in Latin comprehension, a varsity letter in Nordic skiing, and was an AP scholar with distinction. Alexander also participated in the dual enrolment programme at the University of Minnesota.