News

Volunteering - Its a Gift

Date Posted: Wednesday 08 December 2004

Volunteers from private and public sector organisations showed just how much they cared by participating in a day of voluntary action organised by Business in the Community to mark the International Day of Disabled People as part of Cares Challenge programme. The action kicked off with a hearty breakfast to set the volunteers up for the day at HBOS at 8.30am on Friday 3 December.

Maura McClean, Employee Volunteering Manager with Business in the Community commented, "We are delighted that over 80 volunteers have participated in this Northern Ireland Cares Action Day and provided assistance to eight projects. The volunteers are all supported by their employers who really want to make a difference and recognise the benefits of employer supported volunteering both to their employees and the local community. Cares provides a service to community organisations that need assistance in areas such as painting and decorating, coaching, fundraising, delivering meals, gardening/digging, creating sensory gardens, entertaining the elderly and more. The challenges they have undertaken have made a positive impact to local schools and voluntary groups."

Teams arrived at different locations from various organisations from various organisations to complete numerous challenges throughout the day. Participants included: volunteers from Business in the Community, who teamed up with the Cedar Foundation to complete a mural depicting the four seasons; CCEA took part in 'X Factor' at Cedar Lodge; the Co-op tackled a painting challenge at Rostulla School in Jordanstown, painting a traffic mural where the children wait for their buses; HBOS staff organised a party for the pupils of Fleming Fulton School; OFMDFM completed a ground force challenge at Harberton School, completing a makeover of the outdoor play area. Four organisations including Business in the Community, Michelin, PSNI and Wrightbus also completed an animal themed painting makeover on walls throughout Rainbow Lodge for Praxis in Ballymena.

Lynda Patterson, Acting Head of Training Services at The Cedar Foundation commented, "We were really delighted to be chosen as the project for the team from Business in the Community and I can certainly say that the team has worked very hard today to create a beautiful mural for our Training Services section. We came up with the idea for a garden scene, something bright and cheerful which also, quite cleverly, allowed us to incorporate our Cedar Tree logo into the mural as well. Everyone is very pleased with the results and the team at Balmoral would like to say a very big thank-you to all who took the time to get involved".

Business in the Community helps companies achieve their CSR aims through the use of employee volunteering, including team and individual opportunities, enabling people to use and expand their skills in a totally new environment. For more information, contact Maura McClean, Employee Volunteering Manager, on (028) 9046 0606, or visit the website www.bitcni.org.uk

If you would like to find out more details about the work of The Cedar Foundation please contact www.cedar-foundation.org or e.mail: info@cedar-foundation.org

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