DML has a budget available each year to support charitable activities and to provide sponsorship for good causes. If appropriate, we can sometimes provide voluntary labour and/or excess materials and equipment. To make sure that the funds are distributed on a fair and consistent basis each request is reviewed against a formal policy:

"DML is the largest private sector employer in Devon and Cornwall. The company's policy is to support local good causes concerned with the relief of deprivation, the long term sick, the disadvantaged and the disabled. We do not use our resources to support broader based, national or international causes, no matter how worthy these may be. We do not donate to religious causes of any denomination, and we do not support character-building, sporting, academic or vocational ventures for the individual.

We do not attempt to select a small number of 'favoured' charities for larger donations each year; we prefer to donate smaller amounts to a greater number of qualifying causes.

In deciding how much to give and to whom, we prefer to see our donations used to provide long-term benefits for many people rather than short-term benefits or benefits to individuals."