Call to businesses to sign up for day of volunteering

The global day encourages businesses to give staff paid time to volunteer to help local good causes and over 30,000 people are expected to take part this year.

It gives local community organisations, social enterprises and schools the benefit of volunteered resources, skills and knowledge from business.

Last year businesses donated time worth £2.37m which highlights the growing appetite among business to help their local communities prosper.

Across the south-east 26 companies participated, sending out 484 volunteers in helping 36 community organisations.

Stephen Howard, chief executive of Business in the Community, said: ‘Volunteering is a powerful tool which builds dialogue and relationship between groups of people and organisations who might otherwise not have the opportunity to engage in a community.

‘It also offers genuine mutual benefit – the experience builds skills and motivates employees, while helping to make a positive contribution that meets community needs.

‘Give & Gain Day is all about celebrating what can be achieved in communities through the power of volunteers – but it’s more than just a day and we urge businesses that take part to use it as a springboard into deeper long term engagement in communities across Hampshire all year round.’

Tina Varns, sustainability and ethical sourcing manager at Waitrose, sponsor of Give & Gain Day, said: ‘Volunteering is such an important part of what we do – each of our shops supports its staff to volunteer for local good causes. Waitrose donates thousands of paid hours a year for partners to give their time and skills to support local good causes.’

Companies can get involved at bitc.org.uk/giveandgainday