We were delighted to catch up with our business champions at Nylacast pls on Thursday 4th October, to celebrate, share and learn.
The session started with us recognising outstanding contributions to our work, with Jessica Kalar of Sytner group winning our star champion and Dean Cross form the Haymarket shopping Centre winning a golden heart. Both had shown what can be achieved when local businesses decide to engage with the community and young people, be it offering work tours, spaces for community groups to meet, or sharing skills and experience with young people.
Ross Cox and Amy Cook updated champion son our SEND work and opportunities to host work tours. Both of which offer simple, practical and rewarding ways to engage with young people
We then launched our #BagsOfHope campaign, where we will be encouraging the business community to donate items that will go in bags that our distributed through our network of community partners to families and people young and old in need over the festive period.
“ Supporting the #BagsOfHope is an easy way for staff to give back and it is great for team morale when they see the bags go out and the pictures of the families and young people who have received them
Danielle Young - Nelsons Law
Champions then took time to discuss in small groups how they can support and encourage their colleagues to volunteer. A wide range of practical ideas were put forward:
Key is face to face communication alongside email
Letting them know there are a variety of opportunities that vary from fifteen to thirty minutes on a zoom, to half a day at a school
Sharing the success stories of colleagues volunteering across wider teams
Seeking to build volunteering and CSR into appraisal and performance management
Letting them know it is fun and rewarding to volunteer
Champions need to be positive, and solution focussed see opportunities not problem
The day ended with Kieran encouraging those present to attend our upcoming #PowerTo Change conference at King Power Stadium om November 12th. Which will be a great opportunity to explore how business, community and public sector can work together in creative partnerships to bring about change.
As always it was really inspiring to spend time with creative, committed people who want to bring about positive change, for young people and community groups. I am looking forward to building on this commitment and us taking the work forward together, over the coming year
Kieran Breen CEO Leicestershire Cares
For more info on our #PowerToChange approach https://www.leicestershirecares.co.uk/about-charity/our-approach/power-to-change/
More details on our #PowerToChange conference https://www.leicestershirecares.co.uk/about-charity/news-events-/save-date-power-change-conference/
Examples of our Business Partners engaging with our work https://www.leicestershirecares.co.uk/about-charity/news-events-/making-difference-week-leicestershire-cares-education-team/