Abco hits donation milestone with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF).

From left: David Stewart (Head of Fundraising, ILF), Ben Bowen (CEO,ILF), Mitchell Heritage (Senior Product Owner, CBA), James Bagshaw (MD, Abco), Shaun Gilchrist (Group Marketing Manager, Abco)

Abco has reached the milestone of $160,000 donated to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) since the start of its partnership with the organisation.

Abco’s managing director, James Bagshaw, said the partnership with the ILF is an integral part of Abco’s ESG strategy and a natural fit, as both organisations share common goals around employment opportunities and a strong commitment to the community.

“It’s a critical part of our ESG plans and developing our Reconciliation Action Plan over the coming years, to have initiatives like ILF, and there will be others that we’ll be implementing in the future to complement our core purpose of empowering staff and empowering cleaners and empowering the communities,” said Bagshaw.

The ILF is a national charity of the Australian book industry, working with First Nations remote communities across Australia.

The ILF is community-led, responding to requests from remote communities for culturally relevant books, including early learning board books, resources, and programs to support communities to create and publish their stories in languages of their choice.

David Stewart, ILF’s head of fundraising said to date in the last 10 years, ILF has published more than 100 books in about 30 different languages.

“Many of these books have been put into our Book Supply program which is great because children who are reading books in their own language are much more likely to continue that reading journey. This is so important and will ensure that more opportunities become available to children in remote communities,” said Stewart.

“For $10 we’re able to get one book into the hands of a child in a remote community. This means that the $160,000 that Abco has supported us with has provided 16,000 books to remote areas where access is limited. This is just an incredible contribution to our programs.”

The achievement comes as Abco launches its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

“This year we’re very excited to be launching our first Reconciliation Action Plan which will really help us to explore and bring together other aspects of reconciliation across the business,” said Jacqueline Lewis, Abco quality, compliance and ESG manager.

“This forms a part of our broader ESG strategy, which Abco are very passionate about in making sure that as a business we play our part in contributing to a sustainable future.”