SHS Group 'Give and Gain' Through Volunteering

The SHS Group recently took part in ‘Give & Gain’ Week. Teams across the Group took time out to volunteer with local schools, community groups, charities and social economies.

Give and Gain Week provides businesses with the opportunity to let their teams 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.

Volunteering is a mutually beneficial experience. It brings benefits to both the person volunteering and to the people and organisations that they support. Local organisations and groups we supported during the week included:

• Mindwise’s supported housing service in Belfast. The sheltered accommodation provides emergency assistance for those experiencing homelessness.
• 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.
• Hillside School Special needs school in Cumnock.
• Ayrshire Cancer Support in Cumnock.
• Women’s Aid in Dundalk.
• Leatherhead Start, a local homeless shelter in Leatherhead.

Activities undertaken ranged from putting together food packs for the homeless, to providing gardening support to community groups and volunteering at animal sanctuaries.

A big thank you to everyone within the SHS Group who volunteered and of course our community partners who supported the initiative. The efforts have enhanced services for those who need them most within the local community. Collectively we donated 371 volunteering hours across the week which is a fantastic example of our ‘Stronger Together’ value in action!