• Challenge. A whopping 188 challenges have been brokered to date proving the programme is as popular as ever, and 108 have been completed.   And here's a date for your diary. You can book your Festive Challenge from Wednesday 5 October 2011.  Keep your eye on the Intranet (only 102 shopping days to Xmas!)
• Skillshare.  To date this year we have brokered 115 skillshares with volunteers donating their business skills to charities.  While just under 250 Zurich staff completed our Volunteer Survey in June, expressing interest in either general or skillshare volunteering opportunities in the future. 
  

At 5.30pm on Wednesday 13 July, 72 volunteers from Swindon, Farnborough, Cheltenham, Fareham, Birmingham, London and Cardiff took to the phones to carry out the Marie Curie Cancer Care user survey. It was the first time that the charity had used corporate volunteers to tackle such a sensitive task but the overwhelming response, on both sides, was truly positive. Our volunteers were able to survey a total of 31 patients and 134 carers in total, thereby meeting the charity's requirements. 

In addition:

• 95% of the volunteers felt it was a productive use of their time.
• 98% said they would take on a similar task again.
• 23% people said that they were nervous about carrying out the surveys but all of these said that they actually enjoyed the experience. "Expected to get a little bit upset, but after talking to a 90 year old, and his 93 year old wife, and heard how they met 67 years ago on a train – all very romantic.  It made the next call which was sad, easier to deal with."

Zurich's courage in being the first group to take on new initiatives, and the consistent quality of delivery, has been of huge value to the charity over many years." Edward Cole, Corporate Development Manager, Marie Curie Cancer Care

Other highlights

• 20 graduates are working with us on 3 group skillshares to develop webinars in 3 key areas of learning required by charities - social media, social return on investment and persuasive presentation skills. The first webinar is due to start at the end of October 2011. 
• The picture at the top of Whiteley committee members on their challenge supporting young carers - we love it!