Following the International Day of Charity on 5 September, RCP London Events is highlighting how the choices organisations make when planning events can have a wider social impact.
All events revenue from the venue contributes to the work of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), a registered charity whose work focuses on educating, improving and influencing for better health and care. This creates a different relationship between an event and its host venue as the spend associated with bringing people together can also help support work with a wider public benefit.
The social impact extends to the venue’s food and beverage provision. Through Company of Cooks, the venue’s catering supplier, RCP London Events supports Well Grounded, a social enterprise helping people facing barriers to employment to develop careers in the coffee industry. The Community Blend coffee served at the venue contributes funds towards Well Grounded academies.
RCP London Events’ Head of Commercial Events, Natacha Allen, says: “The events industry has a real opportunity to think more broadly about the value it creates and how bringing people together can also contribute to causes and communities beyond the event itself. At RCP London Events, our connection to the Royal College of Physicians and our partnership with Well Grounded are examples of how social impact can be built into the way events are delivered.”
The approach reflects a wider shift in how organisations are considering the impact of their events. Research from American Express Global Business Travel’s 2026 Meetings & Events Forecast, found that 31% of organisations are prioritising sustainable venues when sourcing events, while a further 51% consider sustainability an important factor in their decision-making. As organisations place greater emphasis on the impact of their business activities, the choice of event venue is becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation.
For charities and purpose-led organisations in particular, the choice of event venue can offer an opportunity to make their budgets work harder, supporting their own objectives while contributing to another cause. International Day of Charity provides a timely reminder that charitable impact does not always have to come from a traditional donation. It can also be built into everyday business decisions, including where organisations choose to meet and do business.
