Team development opportunity through volunteering activity on 15 May 2015
23 Mar 2015
In support of our social responsibility agenda, the University is once again taking part in Give and Gain Day
This national day of employee volunteering organised by Business in the Community (BITC) falls on 15 May 2015, when they are bringing together like-minded organisations to use their ideas, talents and resources to enhance their social responsibility impact.
Give and Gain Day connects employees with community organisations by matching them with a volunteering project. In the past, volunteers have helped with everything from school sports days to employability workshops for the long term unemployed. Give and Gain Day participants in the UK are part of a global movement of thousands of volunteers across 25 countries as diverse as Spain, Iran, Nigeria and Guatemala.
By making volunteering accessible and inspirational, BITC aims to support organisations to see volunteering as something that can contribute to individual professional development and team building.
The University is encouraging managers who already have a planned team development activity in the pipeline, or are thinking about undertaking an event, to consider taking part in a Give and Gain Day activity. This will align the University’s own team development goals with the possibility of participating in activity undertaken during working hours on 15 May that benefits our local community.
10 easy reasons why you should get involved
People
- It's fun
- It develops skills
- It promotes team work
- It inspires
Community
- It can improve lives in our local community
- It builds new partnerships
- It helps where the need is greatest
The University
- It increases staff motivation
- It can enhance the profile of the University
- It enhances our responsibility
Getting involved
Responsibility for organising these days is devolved to individual managers. To register interest, find out more about local projects, and how you can participate in Give and Gain Day, visit the following site:
You can contact Jacqueline Manley, the co-ordinator for the North West region for Give and Gain Day, on:
Or simply sign up for an event at:
Events do not need to take up the whole day; a range of activities is available. There is a cost involved (minimum £400 per team of up to 10 people and £40 pp thereafter) which covers insurance, health and safety, administration and all brokerage arrangements. Subject to availability, we have a small pot of central funding available for early bird bookings. If you are interested to find out more, please contact Jacqueline.Manley@bitc.org.uk
If you have ideas or opportunities for Give and Gain Day team volunteering activity outside the brokered BITC offer, and would like to discuss whether your event would qualify for time off from work under this initiative, please contact susan.field@manchester.ac.uk to discuss further. In line with the University’s priorities for engaging its communities, such events will normally need to focus on less advantaged groups, areas and communities and relate to one of the following key themes:
- Educational opportunities
- Vulnerable People
- Healthy Living & Sport
- Culture
- Environment
Activities will also, in most cases, take the following geographical priority order:
A) Manchester priority wards: City, Ardwick, Hulme, Rusholme, Moss Side, Longsight, Fallowfield, Old Moat, Withington
B) Other wards in Manchester City Council
C) Other Greater Manchester local authorities
If you are already planning to undertake individual volunteering activity on 16 May beyond the scope of University team development, either volunteering that you do outside work, or for example as a School Governor, you can also register your activity via the website above and join in with the global event.
More information
For further information about the University's staff volunteering initiatives:
- Contact Susan Field at susan.field@manchester.ac.uk
- Visit Staff Volunteering
For further information about staff development please contact Denise Fieldhouse at: