Now in its fourth year, Give & Gain Day is the UK's only national day of employee volunteering. Taking place later this month, on Friday 24 June, Give & Gain Day 2011 aims to inspire thousands of employees to volunteer time during the working day.
Give & Gain Day demonstrates the power of employee volunteering and is an excellent way of introducing businesses to the impact they can have in local communities and the benefits it can bring to their business, said BITC. Last year, 7,000 people took part in the initiative, donating their time, experience and skills to support community projects. A total of 221 organisations were involved and over 55,000 individuals benefited, often from communities with the greatest need.
As many participating companies have operations in countries outside the UK, this year the campaign has gone international, with interest from 11 countries around the world, including Hong Kong, Hungary, Czech Republic and Ecuador. Organisers hope to engage 10,000 participants worldwide, since 2011 marks the European Year of the Volunteer and the UN Year of the Volunteer. Companies already added to this year's roll-call of participants include Prudential, Everton Football Club and Freemantle Media.
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." Gennie Franklin, programmes and employee volunteering director, BITC, added: "With the pressure on local organisations, businesses and community groups greater than ever before, Give & Gain Day 2011 is an opportunity to empower businesses, their employees and communities to work together to achieve change." Give & Gain Day is run by Business in the Community, with national sponsors Lloyds Banking Group, Eversheds and Hewlett-Packard, in association with BT and GyroHSR.
