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Over 9,000 employees volunteer across the UK for Give & Gain Day 2012
9,138 business volunteers, 191 companies, 500 projects, over 218 charities, 85,597 hours, £1.56 million worth of support helping to change 40,000 lives. 1 day to make a difference
- UK private sector workers swap the office for good causes on Give & Gain Day 2012
- Lloyds Banking Group, Eversheds and BT are amongst companies volunteering
- Business charity calls for more businesses to make a difference
Today (18 May 2012), over 9,000 employees across the UK are volunteering during working hours and giving their time to cash-strapped community groups and local charities. They will be taking part in Give & Gain Day, the only global day of employee volunteering organised by Business in the Community.
Give & Gain Day connects skilled professionals with vital voluntary sector organisations by matching them with a good cause and volunteering project to support, providing an invaluable boost particularly relevant at a time when many local organisations are at breaking point. The 2012 event takes place against the backdrop of increasing pressures on local services, with recent figures suggest that over 265 smaller charities* were forced to close last year, with an expected 300** facing imminent closure.
A range of organisations, from well-known charities such as The Big Issue, Aspire, Broadway and City Farms, to hundreds of smaller local charities, including hospices, schools, autistic societies, women’s support units and community groups, are set to benefit from the time, expertise and skills of the business volunteers taking part in today’s initiative. Supported by leading employers including Lloyds Banking Group, international law firm Eversheds and BT, the private sector is donating more than £1.56m in time to vital voluntary groups in the UK today.
The biggest corporate investor in UK communities, and Sponsor of Give & Gain Day, Lloyds Banking Group firmly believes its economic contribution to society will help build thriving communities. It supports this through active investment in communities and a charitable giving programme. Matt Young, Group Corporate Affairs Director, Lloyds Banking Group said:
"One of the best ways businesses can support their local community is by encouraging employees, customers and suppliers to use their skills and time through volunteering. We fully appreciate the importance of playing an active part in the communities in which we operate."
Business volunteers pictured to mark Give & Gain Day, a national initiative run by charity Business in the Community to encourage professionals to donate a working day to volunteer for a range of good causes, charities and community groups. Over 9,000 volunteers from 176 companies will be volunteering today, supporting over 200 charities. Give & Gain Day is sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group and Eversheds LLP, with communications support from BT, and a partnership with Blue Dot .
Business in the Community, which campaigns for all business to act responsibly, is using the 2012 campaign to call for even more businesses to make a positive difference in society by equipping and empowering their employees volunteering efforts.
Commenting Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community said: “Give & Gain Day is a living, breathing example of the powerful opportunity for business to be a force for social good in cities, towns and villages across the UK and internationally.
He continues: “Volunteering helps build vital connections that create better places to live, work and operate. Active participation in communities makes business sense - despite the challenging economic climate. As the world gears up for the London 2012 Olympics, there has never been more interest in volunteering and community involvement. Business has a unique contribution to make to support the voluntary sector and a great opportunity to do more. We encourage other businesses to take leadership and participate in this movement.”
Taking inspiration from the Olympics, a number of the projects and community organisations being supported today promote the social value of sport and its ability to transform communities. Give & Gain day is providing a perfect platform for almost 1,600 business volunteers to support 3,290 young people in community sports projects such as the Community Games, an inspirational multi-sport festivals, which aim to increase young people's participation in sport initiative, run by charity Sport Inspired. The business volunteer involvement also gives young people a chance to be mentored and build core employability skills such as leadership, team work, communication and problem solving. To support this theme, Olympic Silver Medallist Diver - Leon Taylor, and the World Freestyle Football Champion - Andrew Henderson, will be supporting projects in London.
Volunteers will also be taking part in a range of activities including
- 16 Community Games across the UK helping 3,290 children from 21 schools
- 300 volunteers in Sheffield working on a number of different projects for young people with learning difficulties
- 260 volunteers from Arqiva working in a range of schools, the Hampshire Autistic Society and Second Chance.
And to thank them for their efforts, Business in the Community has partnered with ‘social currency’ Blue Dot’ to reward each UK volunteer with 20 blue dots to exchange for money can’t buy prizes such as sold out gigs. Each volunteer will also receive a personal ‘good account’ which is a unique online CV from Blue Dot that recognises and showcases charitable actions.
UK Give & Gain participants are in good company joining a global movement of over 14,500 volunteers taking part today. Inspired by the success of the established UK initiative, in 2011 Business in the Community took Give & Gain Day global through its international partner network of corporate responsibility organisations the CSR360 Global Partners Network. It now involves over 25 countries around the world including China, Dubai, Serbia and Ecuador.
Eversheds LLP an international law firm, have supported hundreds of employees to volunteer on Give & Gain Day over the last four years. Their Chief Executive Bryan Hughes explains why:
“Businesses that take part in Give & Gain Day know the impact that only a few hours of giving can have on a local community whilst giving employees the opportunity to have fun, feel good and help change lives for the better. Part of Eversheds’ ethos is to give back to the many communities around the world in which we live and work.
Give & Gain Day is sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group, Eversheds LLP, in association with BT
For more information visit: www.bitc.org.uk/giveandgainday
-ENDS-
* Charities Commission
** Miller Philanthropy
For further information about Business in the Community contact
Ochuko Adekoya – Ochuko.adekoya@bitc.org.uk
About Business in the Community
Business in the Community is a business-led charity with a growing membership of over 850 companies. We work locally and nationally through 11 regional teams and internationally with 115 global partners. With a further 10,700 engaged in our campaigns and an employee reach of 16.8 million - we are one of the largest and most influential leadership networks focused on driving responsible business practice. We offer our members a range of practical information, tools, training and resources to help them transform their businesses and integrate responsible practices into their operations. And we ask our members to work in partnership with us to help transform communities and tackle serious social issues where business can make a real difference.
Business in the Community is one of the Prince’s Charities, a group of not-for-profit organisations of which The Prince of Wales is President. www.bitc.org.uk
About Give & Gain Day
Give & Gain Day managed by Business in the Community is the UK’s only national day of action for employee volunteers, who will give their time and skills to hundreds of community projects throughout the UK. In 2011, Give & Gain day ‘went global’ and now involves 25 countries inspired by the success of the UK initiative. This year, Give & Gain Day is taking place on 18 May 2012
It is sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group and Eversheds LLP, with communications support from BT, and a partnership with Blue Dot .
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18 May 2012
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