06 June 2007. 15 Zurich staff in Cheltenham regularly give up their lunchtimes each week during term time to help small children improve their reading. Usually, they travel to Lynworth School at Whaddon, Lynworth and Priors, to hear children read that don’t always get the opportunity to practise at home.
This week, as part of Volunteers Week, the children are coming into Zurich’s offices to read, plus to encourage other staff to become lunchtime volunteers. Volunteers Week is co-ordinated in England by Volunteering England, and runs from 1-7 June 2007. It is a national celebration of volunteers and volunteering, and this is one of Zurich’s many volunteering events which are happening this week, and every other week of the year, around the country.
There’s an added bonus for Lynworth School too as the local grant giving committee in Cheltenham of Zurich Community Trust has just awarded the school a £1,000 bursary to enable children to go on school trips who wouldn’t normally be able to afford it.
Frances Jenkins, Headteacher at Lynworth School said “For children who may be unable to practice their reading at home the Zurich scheme provides an invaluable opportunity for children to improve and develop their reading skills while enjoying individual interaction with an attentive adult.” She added “As for the grant, it will make such a difference to our children and their families, and will put a smile on some of our children’s faces.”
Tony Martin, Zurich Community Trust’s Volunteer Manager commented “Over 30% of Zurich’s staff supports the community in some way, either through giving money, volunteering time or sharing business skills.” He continued “We run a number of volunteering activities for staff from one off team building events like Challenge and sharing business skills with charities. We even get involved with virtual volunteering such as phone support to vulnerable older people and e-befriending disabled children in India.”
The largest annual volunteering event is Challenge 2007, which is now in its 16th year. Last year over 2,000 staff took part in 200 Challenges across the UK, of which 20 took place in Gloucestershire. Staff teams get together to complete one-off projects, which benefit a local organisation. It creates awareness of community issues, can be fun and a teambuilding activity for those involved. When it was launched last month, over 25 Challenges have been taken up to support charities in Gloucestershire by 250 staff.
One of the organisations that benefited from Challenge last year was leading child bereavement, Winston’s Wish in Cheltenham. Julie Stokes OBE, Chief Executive holds Zurich’s volunteering programme in very high regard and said “Your challenge volunteers are an inspiration to all and we’re proud top call them not just supporters but friends.”
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Kate Hodges, Communications Manager, Zurich’s Community Trust on 01793 503711 or on her mobile on 07708 269653
Notes to Editors about Zurich’s Community Trust
- Zurich Community Trust (UK) Limited is a registered charity funded by pre-tax profits from Zurich and donations from Zurich’s staff. It provides an umbrella for all Zurich’s community involvement in the UK
- By giving time, money and skills donated from Zurich and its employees in the UK we help disadvantaged people to achieve independence.
- Zurich Community Trust manages and matches Zurich employees' and financial advisers' £1 million donations, 46,000 hours of volunteering including around 200 team challenges involving 1,600 staff.
- Zurich Community Trust Programmes create sustainable change through long-term funding and active employee involvement. The Trust works closely with innovative partners to make significant impact on the lives of disadvantaged people in the UK and overseas. These programmes tackle drug misuse in families, social exclusion and the most vulnerable older people’s issues. In addition, there is a programme in southern India sharing Zurich business skills to help build capacity of Indian NGO’s. Mental Health and Families is the latest programme as other programmes come to their natural end.
- Visit Zurich’s website on www.zurich.org.uk for more details.
