To call ourselves a responsible business, we must do right by our people, our society and the planet we share. As the 5th of September is International Day of Charity, we're taking the opportunity to share some examples of how our people are doing something good for others with their volunteering days.
We’re super-proud to be a company that cares about our local communities. That’s why we give all our employees a day off every year to volunteer! At the time of writing, we have had over 50 days and counting completed. From swim-athons to dog walking, 3 Peak Challenges to cleaning up rivers and canals and volunteering at a local mosque during Ramadan. It’s not what you do but who you’re helping that counts. There are many more days planned, but for now, here’s some of the awesome things our people have done so far.
SHANAINE MAYNARD-MUNROE: HELPING BUILD A BETTER ANIMAL SANCTUARY
The Service Management and Service Transition team recently teamed up for a big volunteering day at the Brockswood Animal Sanctuary. The team were given the task of tackling some of the maintenance, a never-ending list for the sanctuary. Closely watched by Malcom the emu, the team got to work with gloves and spades; old fences were replaced with new stable fences, dirt shovelled, and shrubs moved. The team achieved a huge amount of work and provided a large amount of support for Brockswood, work that would have taken them weeks to complete, that’s what we call a success!
Reflecting on her experience, Shanaine had this to share with us: “After a long day of hard work, we were rewarded with spending some time with all the animals that get to call the sanctuary home. I didn’t use my charity day last year, and I cannot recommend taking this day enough! It’s super simple to book off, and a wonderful way to spend the day. We’re already thinking about what we can do next year.”
TONY STAMPER, CRAIG PEDLEY AND CHRIS STENING: SUPPORTING LGBT+ CHARITY OPENING DOORS
Opening Doors is a charity that helps older LGBT+ people in the UK who may be lonely, discriminated against, or have health problems. Tony, Senior Programme Manager, Craig, Lead Application Developer, and Chris, Group Transformation Director, collected money and raised awareness to support the cause:
“We decided to set up this volunteering opportunity because we wanted to help a charity that helps older LGBT+ people who may have a tough time in life. It’s important to raise awareness and money for this cause, especially during Pride Month.”
JOHN FORREST: VOLUNTEERING FOR CARSTAIRS & DISTRICT COMMUNITY GALA EVENT
The Carstairs & District Community Gala Event has been going since 1912 and it certainly helped John, Project Controls Manager, put his project management skills in action.
“On my Volunteer Day, I helped organise all the events of the day and prepare for the other weekday events. The events have something for everyone, with fun and participation being the main priority. Events include a Sports Programme, BBQ, and a disco to name a few. The whole event was paid for by local fundraising, which was great for the families involved.
