Bristol Cares Achieves its 1000th Volunteer

This year’s thousandth Bristol Cares volunteer rolled up her sleeves at Lawrence Weston Community Farm in Bristol on 19 June.  This incredible achievement marks the highest number of volunteers ever recruited by Bristol Cares and more than 40% increase in the number of volunteers during 2006/7.

We have a record number of businesses engaged in the community.

The thousandth volunteer, Sarah Anderson from HBOS, comments; “Our team had a really nice day out in the sun and it's good to do a task that you can see through to completion within a day.  The prize for being the 1000th volunteer was a great surprise to top the day off, and a nice way to end the day.”

The South West’s Community Impact work has grown hugely this year with a 250% increase in Business Action on Homelessness (BAOH) as well as the substantial growth in Cares.  Through Cares, BAOH, ProHelp and education programmes, the region has worked with over 100 businesses helping them to improve the positive impact they have on society.

Activity has included the introduction of Client Support Networks for homeless clients and the launch of a Schools Outreach programme with the majority of work having taken part in the most deprived areas of the UK.  The primary focuses have been employability, the environment and education. 

Over 100 Cares challenges have taken place involving an incredible 1,500 volunteers from businesses across the region.  HBOS, Kensey Foods, ITV and Ginsters are just a few companies that have rolled up their sleeves and got stuck into projects benefitting local communities.

Cadburys, Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs and University of Plymouth have been incredibly active in BAOH and Beachcroft and Osborne Clarke have contributed enormously to the local community through ProHelp. 

Johanna Le Poidevin, Deputy Regional Director, comments; “We have a record number of businesses engaged in the community and to support this work we’ve appointed Tony Cherry, Partner at Beachcroft LLP, as Chair of Employee Volunteering for the South West.  Tony’s input is already driving forward our Community Impact strategy enabling us to engage more businesses and increase the positive impact they’re having on the key social issues for the region.”