Give and Gain Day on 5th June will see thousands of employees from across the UK give time and skills to schools and community groups as businesses face the impacts of recession . Give and Gain Day in Scotland is organised by Scottish Business in the Community.

Over forty employees from global asset management company F&C Investments Ltd, one third of the staff at the Edinburgh office, will visit Ferryhill to help improve their outdoor space and build an outdoor classroom.

Green MSP Robin Harper will drop in for the revamp as the group gets their hands dirty in the eco garden and outdoor education spaces. Staff will do a variety of practical tasks including building mushroom seats, planting an orchard and clearing up woodland.

In Scotland over a hundred employees from 12 companies in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverclyde will give time to schools and community groups by either working on practical projects, or inviting young people on behind the scenes tours of their organisation to tackle barriers to employment.

Marrack Tonkin, Head of F&C Investments at the Edinburgh Office said, “It can be more difficult for companies to maintain financial support in the economic downturn but giving to the local community is still achievable. Giving time is important. Events like Give and Gain day that are about giving time rather than money are great because the focus should be on this kind of giving. We can’t lose sight of that in the current climate.”

“We take our responsibilities as an investor and employer seriously and have set ambitious targets on our corporate responsibility. We want to do everything we can to get involved in the community and staff will benefit hugely from this. Working with colleagues outside of the office makes staff feel good, develop leadership skills and relationships they wouldn’t typically take place.”

Chief Executive of SBC Jane Wood said, “Give & Gain Day is about getting as many people out there to make a difference during work time. When times are hard, employee volunteering is the most cost-effective and valuable way for companies to continue to invest in their people’s time and skills – and to develop future talent and enterprise in the community.”



Notes to Editors

1.More than 4,300 employees throughout the United Kingdom will volunteer a day of their time and skills for Business in the Community’s Give & Gain Day 2009.
2.Give & Gain Day is Business in the Community’s national day of action for employee volunteers, who will give their time and skills to community projects benefiting over 58,000 people.
3.Give & Gain Day is taking place on 5 June 2009 during Volunteers’ Week – which is celebrating its 25th year and will focus on rewarding, recognising and recruiting volunteers.
4.Give & Gain Day 2009 is also proudly supported by media partners ITV, Metro and GreyLondon


Contact

For more information and photographs please contact:
Jo Campbell @ Campbell PR on 0131 243 2612 or 07747 624 458