Volunteering efforts praised by Give & Gain Day organisers

Employees from businesses all over the country have been getting active outside of their workplaces today, as part of Business in the Community’s (BITC) ‘Give & Gain Day’.

BITC estimate there to be some 12,000 business volunteers in total, from 300 companies who have embraced the chance to contribute to a wide variety of projects and good causes organised to make a positive impact on community life.

Director of programmes & employee volunteering, Gennie Franklin, comments: “Employee volunteering has the power to transform business and communities. Businesses can play a valuable role in helping young people gain the skills, enthusiasm and confidence they need to begin their careers and pursue their interests. It’s a win win, the experience builds skills and motivates employees – 86% of the employees that took part in 2012 said that they have increased loyalty towards their employer as a result.”

Simon Lucas, managing director of Society, a recruitment and executive search firm, encourages more businesses to become active in their communities, saying: “I think the impact Give & Gain Day can have on local communities is really profound. There’s the short term benefits of community organisations getting an event run or a mural painted, but there’s also a fundamental exchange happening. Businesses are getting exposed to the issues that community organisations on their doorstep are having to grapple with, the community organisations are getting exposed to business ways of thinking and acting.”

Some examples of the volunteering projects being carried out today include visits to day centres and older people, working with youth groups, school sports days, and workshops for the unemployed.