SHS Group ‘Give and Gain’ Through Volunteering Challenges

Give and Gain Week provides organisations with the opportunity to let their staff experience the incredible power of employee volunteering. Each year, thousands of people around the world give up their day jobs, roll up their sleeves and support a local community organisation or charity.

There is strong evidence that volunteering brings benefits to both the person volunteering and to the people and organisations that they support. It’s a mutually beneficial exchange, helping volunteers to build their skills and confidence, whilst making a positive contribution to local community groups and charities. The local community Groups & Schools we partnered with this year included:

• Kilcreggan Urban Farm in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. The Farm offers packages of support to people with learning difficulties, autism and brain injuries.
• Cheltenham Animal Shelter and Leonard Cheshire Disability in Cheltenham.
• Longfield, a service providing specialist services, 365 days per year, for adults in Gloucestershire affected by life-limiting illness.
• The Hope Centre, a charity which provides support to local homeless people in Northampton.
• Newfields Gardening, a community interest company providing activities, skills and learning for adults with disabilities and mental health issues in Southampton.
• Longmeadow Allotments, designed to help young children and families get involved in growing fruit and vegetables.

The efforts have enhanced services for those who need them most within the local community. Activities were wide ranging.

There was a great wealth of activities carried out throughout the week from putting together food packs for the homeless, providing gardening support to community groups, volunteering at animal sanctuaries and providing support to social enterprises, there was something for everyone!

Thank you to everyone within the SHS Group who volunteered and our community partners for supporting this initiative.