Coats Cares brings all of these community engagement projects under one big umbrella. In October 2023, we introduced the Coats Cares competition to celebrate remarkable acts of kindness and generosity displayed world-wide.

The outpouring of support and engagement was extraordinary, with 101 entries showcasing unique and heart-warming stories of community upliftment. From this inspiring pool of submissions, our dedicated Coats Cares sounding board faced the challenging task of short-listing the top ten entries.

The Group Executive Team then selected five outstanding initiatives to each be awarded a $15,000 prize (which we are showcasing here), and all runners-up have been given $5,000. In total $100,000 was given back to Coats communities in 2024.

Bangladesh: Sponsorship Programme for Underprivileged Children

When families have to choose between education and food, for many students this would be the end of school. However, 15 underprivileged children at Utsho School have benefited from a full Coats sponsorship. Giving these children new hope and allowing them to create a better life for themselves and their families.

The prize money won was used to introduce a new computer lab at the school giving students the opportunity to gain essential digital skills.

“At Coats, we believe that a sustainable future starts with the commitments we make today. ‘Coats Cares’ is our promise to create lasting value for our employees, communities and the environment – because caring is not just what we do, it’s who we are.”
– Farnaz Ranjbar, Chief Human Resources Officer

Bulgaria – Care for adults and children

Coats Bulgaria has helped many children who have no families with gifts of food, clothing, toys and, most importantly, love and care. A charity bazaar was held to encourage Coats staff to contribute to this wonderful cause. This led to further gifts such as handmade toys and food being provided to orphans. Coats Bulgaria has also donated clothes to care homes for the elderly. Such donations and gifts have helped brighten the lives of both young and old.

India – Skill development centres for rural women

For women in rural areas of India there is limited opportunity for skills development, reducing any potential to become financially independent. With this project we teach sewing, fabric design and stitching, which has encouraged many women to engage in income-generating activities, or even to start their own tailoring business. Not only does this allow these women to become economically empowered, it also contributes to the economic development of their region.

Indonesia – Providing water to surrounding communities

Coats Indonesia has provided a tap with safe drinking water just outside the gates of our Pleret factory. This has helped many families gain access to clean water to use in their daily lives.

This reduces the risk of disease and enabling nearby residents to save money and the environment as they do not have to buy expensive bottled water.

Mexico – My gift, your smile

Coats has renovated the school breakfast area at General Francisco López Elementary School in Nogales, close to one of our manufacturing plants in Orizaba.

Coats employees donated time to painting the walls after helping to design graphics for inside and outside of the breakfast area. We donated chairs, tables, a refrigerator, and a microwave for the benefit of the 193 students and nine teachers, who now have a more beautiful and dignified place to enjoy their meals.