Give & Gain Day 2011 – VIP Event – 1st June 2011

The Give & Gain VIP event celebrates senior business leaders’ commitment to volunteering and this was the second year the event had been run.

The event – sponsored by Prudential UK & Europe – attracted 18 entrepreneurs and 23 business leaders, many of whom pledged long-term mentoring support. It was held in an unoccupied office near Liverpool Street, in a space sourced by Healthy Planet, a charity that works with landlords and landowners to use vacant commercial property to promote environmental messages.

While the room was filled with sustainable art and hosted some of Healthy Planet’s Books for Free collection (an initiative that rescues books otherwise destined for landfill or pulping, redistributing them for free), it was lacking in functional furniture. With the help of Green Works – a social enterprise that diverts redundant furniture from landfill to small businesses and charities – and thanks to the generosity of Prudential UK & Europe, the property now includes nearly-new office furniture. This furniture will now be used by other social enterprises. 

The event was BITC’s final call to action for Give & Gain Day 2011, a unique initiative now in its fifth year that sees thousands of employees across the UK spend a working day volunteering in their local communities. This year Give & Gain Day was held on 24 June and will focussed on boosting employability and mentoring within communities most in need. Volunteering numbers exceeded 24,000.

Cathy Lewis, HR Director of Prudential UK & Europe, commented: “BITC’s Speed mentoring event was a fantastic warm up to this year’s Give & Gain Day, one of my favourite days of the year. Last year, 29 per cent of Prudential’s employees spent a day volunteering at inspiring community projects."

"Throughout this year, our target is to motivate more than 40 per cent of our workforce to get involved by volunteering for a day within the local community. I have no doubt that, like me, they will be overwhelmed by how much they get from the experience."

"A great event – thank you!”, Abi Andersen, Rambling Restaurants

“The speed mentoring event did have an impact on the social entrepreneur I was paired with - opening eyes to the value of mentoring and helping her firm up on the areas that a mentor could help.” Richard Buxton, Lloyds Banking Group

“I think it is important to feel that you are benefiting an individual/organisation from volunteering and I think it is also import to feel that you are gaining something your self whether its a new perspective, meeting different people, gaining new skills and experience.” Rob Hale, Lloyds Banking Group

“Thank you again for the opportunity to take part. It was wonderful.“ Pete Thomond, SportInspired

For more information on London’s Social Enterprise Mentoring Progamme please contact anna.springbett@bitc.org.uk or on how your company can get involved in Give & Gain Day 2012 please contact gennie.franklin@bitc.org.uk

Business in the Community would sincerely like to thank Prudential UK & Europe for sponsoring Give & Gain Day 2011’s VIP Event.