News - January 2003
GlaxoSmithKline renews support for 2003
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, is to continue supporting Zippy's Friends through 2003. This is the seventh year that the company - and its predecessor, SmithKline Beecham - has provided funding for the programme.
Unlike many companies, GSK takes a long term view of community sponsorship and supports programmes that have the potential to bring about lasting change.
'We focus on health and education because these are the areas where we have skills and experience within the company,' explained Claire Hitchcock, Director, European and International Community Partnerships.
Zippy's Friends , which teaches coping skills to six and seven year old children, is an educational programme that promotes children's mental and emotional health.
'We like the fact that it targets children at a very early stage, trying to prevent problems before they start,' said Claire. 'It's also important for us that, after being developed in Denmark and Lithuania, the programme has great potential to be replicated in other countries.'
Although Zippy's Friends is designed specifically to help young children, many teachers say that it also changes the way in which they work and manage their classes. This was something that Claire Hitchcock noticed when she visited Denmark last year and sat in on some classes.
'What was really striking was the way in which the programme is delivered - it's very participative,' she said. 'Instead of just telling children what to do, teachers help them to find their own solutions.'
A key feature of GSK's Community Partnership Programme is that the company is pro-active. It was involved in the initial planning stages of Zippy's Friends six years ago and has supported it ever since. In 2003, GSK will continue to cover core costs but other sponsors will be sought to help pay for the programme's expansion.
Chairman Paul Rubenstein paid tribute to GSK's vision in supporting Zippy's Friends over so many years.
'GSK has always understood that developing a new international educational programme takes time,' he said.
'The company has been prepared to invest in evaluation, with the result that we now have a programme that we know produces real benefits for young children. We couldn't have asked for more enlightened or supportive sponsors, and we're very grateful.'