Give & Gain Day 2011
Scottish Business in the Community today marks the launch of Give & Gain Day 2011 – the UK’s only national day of employee volunteering.
· Last year 221 organisations got involved in BITC’s Give & Gain Day
· 6,803 employee volunteers gave their time freely to initiatives up and down the country
· Their volunteering had an impact on 55,440 lives
· This year Give & Gain Day aims to engage 10 000 employees
Scottish Business in the Community today marks the launch of Give & Gain Day 2011 – the UK’s only national day of employee volunteering.
The campaign encourages employers in Scotland and across the UK to get involved and encourage staff to volunteer a couple of hours during their working day to support initiatives in their local communities. This year it will take place on Friday 24th June and registration is now open for companies wishing to take part.
Sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group and in association with BT and GyroHSR, Give & Gain Day 2011 is dedicated to getting thousands of employees out of the office, store or factory to volunteer in their local communities.
Last year 62 per cent of employees that volunteered their time were new to volunteering during working hours and 42 per cent were completely new to volunteering. 85 per cent participated because they wanted to help others, whilst almost 60 percent felt that it was a great way to motivate their teams and reported that it gave them a huge sense of achievement.
But giving their time also meant gaining in many other ways – there are additional benefits to both volunteers and employers. 70 per cent of employee volunteers reported developing their time management, communication, decision making and leadership skills, whilst 87 per cent of employees reported an improved perception of their employer and 82 per cent felt more committed to the organisation they worked for.
Jane Wood, Chief Executive of Scottish Business in the Community said, “At a time when businesses around the country are feeling the strain from the global economic downturn, volunteering is one way in which we encourage businesses to support and contribute to their local communities.
"We want UK companies, big and small, to offer their employees the chance to volunteer on the 24thJune 2011. We know from experience and research that so much can be gained from this experience for both the employer and the volunteer. It is easy and it is fun, to find out more go to www.giveandgainday.org.uk “.
Truett Tate, BITC Chairman of the Employee Volunteering Leadership Team and Group Executive Director, Lloyds Banking Group said: “I recognise the benefits volunteering brings to my organisation, the impact that only a few hours of giving can have on a local community, as well as the opportunity for employees to develop skills, improve team-working and increase pride in a company. We have a longstanding relationship with Business in the Community and are proud to be sponsoring Give & Gain Day 2011."
ENDS
Notes for editors
For media enquiries please contact Angela Bonney at angelabonney@sbcscot.com or on (0131) 451 1100
Give & Gain Day, managed by Business in the Community (BITC) is the UK’s only national day of action for employee volunteers, who will give their time and skills to hundreds of community projects in over 40 cities and towns throughout the UK. This year, Give & Gain Day is taking place on 24 June 2011 - www.giveandgainday.org.uk
Give & Gain Day sponsor
Give & Gain Day 2011 is sponsored nationally by Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Banking Group
· Lloyds Banking Group was formed on the 19th of January 2009
· Lloyds Banking Group has the biggest private shareholder base in the country
· The Group has over 30 million customers and is the UK 's leading provider of current accounts, savings, personal loans, credit cards and mortgages
· Lloyds Banking Group has approximately 120,000 colleagues across the UK
· Operating a multi-brand strategy, the Group’s main brands include; Lloyds TSB, Bank of Scotland, Halifax, Scottish Widows and Cheltenham & Gloucester, and as a result, more than one company name may appear in press releases for legal and logistical reasons
Scottish Business in the Community
Scottish Business in the Community is one of the Prince's Charities in Scotland, it is the only organisation supporting and challenging its private sector members and its partners to improve their impacts in the workplace, marketplace, community and environment.
Scottish Business in the Community is one of the Prince's Charities in Scotland, it is the only organisation supporting and challenging its private sector members and its partners to improve their impacts in the workplace, marketplace, community and environment.
Our support, products and services can help your business tackle the unprecedented challenges and opportunities of today and the future.
SBC Membership represents ten percent of the working population, tens of thousands of people from the Scottish workforce, many of whom are using their influence to shape a new way of doing better business, creating socially and environmentally stronger communities and ultimately helping Scotland achieve its full potential. www.sbcscot.com
