Over 400 volunteers from across Liberty Global’s UK, Netherlands and US teams contributed 2,000 hours of their time during volunteering month in September. This was the first dedicated volunteering month organized by the volunteer and community impact programme, which is now set to be an annual event thanks to its success.
The volunteer and community impact team organised dozens of activities focused on supporting and engaging with the local community that employees could join in their teams or individually.
Volunteers supported two memory cafés in the Netherlands and London, running activities for their guests with Alzheimer’s or Dementia and tackling loneliness and isolation through socialising. Another group supported the Dalgarno Foodbank in London – helping to distribute food to 150 people dealing with food insecurity.
In Bradford, teams supported the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in maintaining their gardens and outdoor areas, so they can be enjoyed for the remainder of the year by the children and their families. The Netherlands saw volunteers from the People team supporting a city farm, helping to make the farm cleaner and tidier for visitors, staff and animals.
Activities also took place online, with volunteers recording an audiobook for visually impaired people in collaboration with community cohesion charity, CamCareUK.
Micah Gurard-Levin, Director of Community Impact, said: “We know that building rich connections into our communities can have a dramatic impact not only on those we help but also on our own well-being and sense of purpose.
“In difficult times, we’re more determined than ever to play our part in the community and shining a spotlight on volunteering helps people get involved and ensures our impact is both positive and sustained.”
Liberty Global offers staff members 24 paid volunteering hours, the equivalent of three days a year, that can be used to participate in any volunteering activities.