#nationalvolunteeringweek is a chance for us to show appreciation to those who give their time and talents to help improve the lives of others.
We like to give back to our people and our community, which is why all our employees are entitled and encouraged to take 2 paid volunteering days each year. In this blog, find out the contributions our employees have made, as well as the reasons behind them:
Claire Whittingham, Deputy Head of Memberships and Events at Moore Engage, volunteers for 4Louis and a local girl guide.
“Everyone has a ‘why’, a reason they get involved with something and for me my why is my daughter.
After receiving help from a charity called 4Louis, when I lost my daughter in 2021, I fundraised for them as a way of giving back. In 2022 myself and my wife became ambassadors for the charity.
4Louis is a baby loss charity that support families affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, and the death of a baby or child. They also provide vital specialised equipment to hospitals, fund bereavement rooms that are so vital to maternity wards and provide training to hospital units and professionals who work with grieving families.
4Louis is based in Sunderland and I commit to volunteering in their warehouse, a few times a year, packing memory boxes full of keepsakes, to help families create lasting memories of their loved ones. I have also been asked to represent 4Louis at events across the country, especially fundraisers taking place in the North-West.
More regularly, I am a leader of a local guide group and spend one night a week running activities for young people in my area. I find it rewarding watching the girls grow into confident, capable, young women.”
Claudia Dickinson, Head of People and Culture at Moore Insight, volunteers for Samaritans.
“I am a listening volunteer with Samaritans and volunteer 3 hours of my time each week for both day and overnight shifts at our local branch here in Sheffield.
My role is to take calls and respond to emails so I can provide emotional support to those in distress when they have no-one else they can turn to. It's a huge privilege and an incredibly rewarding role, and I also value the new friends I have made through our volunteering network.”
Alice Pearson, HR Advisor at Moore Insight, volunteers for Inspiring the Future UK.
“Earlier this year, I signed up to volunteer with Inspiring the Future UK. It is a flagship service of the Education and Employers charity that connects people (like me!) with schools and colleges to broaden children and young people’s horizons, raise their aspirations and increases their motivation to learn.
As a student who struggled academically and didn't receive the support I needed, this charity is very important to me. I am passionate about educating individuals about the different paths they can take after school. After taking the apprenticeship route, I have never looked back.
My first volunteer opportunity will be in July at Chapeltown Academy, working with year 12 students, providing them with appropriate, relevant work experience to help them prepare for their next steps in their careers. With some of my advice, I hope to change someone else's life! I am pretty nervous, but really excited!”
Lauren Grundy, Membership Administrator and Delegate Coordinator at Moore Insight, volunteers at CAFT.
“CAFT is a haven for terminally ill, disabled and disadvantaged children from across the Northwest providing day visits and week-long holidays to children and carers desperately in need.
It is a charity that is very special to me, my father-in-law Tim Grundy founded it in 1985 when he was a radio presenter on Piccadilly radio after visiting children in hospices, he would ask them if they could have anything in the world what would it be, and they would ask for a holiday.
That was where it all began! My husband is a Patron, and we are often seen in elf and Santa outfits around Christmas.”
Penelope Norman, Managing Consultant at Moore Insight, volunteers at The Girl’s Network and as a parent governor at a local school.
“I am volunteering to be a mentor with The Girls’ Network which aims to inspire and empower girls aged 14-19 from the least advantaged communities by connecting them to a mentor and a network of positive role models who are women. Mentoring is an amazing way to share your experience and skills with a girl that might not benefit from this support otherwise. It is also a great way to show a teenage girl that you believe in her, and she is worth investing time in. This is a powerful combination, and one that we have seen transform the lives of girls and young women again and again.
I also volunteer as a parent governor at the local primary school where my children attend. This role is about providing support and constructive challenge to the school to ensure that the needs of all children in the school are met, and the school is operating in an efficient and effective way.
These are both important roles for me as I was brought up in a disadvantaged area that I have since returned and now bring up my own children here. I have a good understanding of some of the challenges faced by young children, particularly girls who come from disadvantaged areas, and can use my skills and experience to give back to my local community - it provides huge opportunity for my own personal growth. The Volunteering Scheme is hugely valuable, and I am grateful to Moore Insight for their support.”
Benefits of volunteering
Volunteering allows people to make a positive impact on society, develop social skills, build connections with others, meet like-minded individuals, learn new skills and enhance existing ones – all of which is beneficial for personal and professional growth.
Inspired? Click here to find out how you can get involved in volunteering.