A week to remember! Volunteers’ Week 2016
Entering into the spirit of Volunteers Week, our corporate partners kicked their employee volunteering fortnight off with a range of activities supporting organisations in east London. Teams of volunteers worked hard during the first two weeks of June supporting organisations in a wide geographical area including Barking and Dagenham, Waltham Forest, Newham and Tower Hamlets.
Whilst London City Airport supported eco-volunteering at Urban Wilderness and employability skills at Buxton School in addition to hosting a tea party for the elders at Neighbours in Poplar. Societe Generale launched a Mentoring & Coaching programme with their charity partner of the year, Mind, facilitated by ELBA to help build the capacity of staff at the charity.
XL Catlin offices around the world held their annual Global Day of Giving; in approximately 70 locations around the world, XL Catlin volunteers donated their time and skills to address diverse issues, including homelessness, hunger, unemployment, education, youth development, and environmental sustainability. A group of XL Catlin colleagues in London spent the day mentoring unemployed social housing residents living in Poplar, East London. One of the volunteers on the day said, “It was much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. I really enjoyed the energy of the participants and watching them get more comfortable and confident as the day went by”. The young people had found it hugely beneficial also, “We got to know different individuals from different departments, which was very useful. I never considered a career in insurance but now I will look into it going forwards”.
Volunteers from S&P Global took part in an employability workshop with stay at home parents who are hoping to get back into the job market. The workshop gave parents the chance to mix with professional role models, develop their CV’s and gain interview practice. The employee volunteers from S&P Global also worked through a series of exercises with the parents to help them get job-ready and to develop skills such as communication and confidence. One attendee, who had never had a CV, left the session with a copy ready to take to the job centre the next day!
Altogether, over the course of volunteer’s week, ELBA facilitated 64 volunteering activities, with 968 volunteers supporting 52 organisations across East London.
