National Cares Day May 16 2008

A big thank you goes out to everyone who have worked so hard to make Cares Day 2008 a huge success.

In all, over 4000 employees from over 200 companies volunteered on 16 May on a range of environmental activities across the country. The event was covered by ITV regional news teams, as reporters interviewed volunteers and BITC staff in a series of live and recorded broadcasts.

This event plays a crucial role in raising the profile of employee volunteering, showing how companies can work collaboratively to make a real difference in deprived communities across the country. Many employees are volunteering for the first time and go back into work as ‘champions’ inspiring others to get involved and bringing corporate responsibility to life in their company.

Quotes from Volunteers:

The most rewarding part of the voluntary experience was... "the hard work the team put in and seeing the end result. Helping brighten up a school less privileged then others." (Volunteer, AT Kearney Ltd., Battersea, London)

"It was a great sense of achievement knowing that we all managed to help in doing a month’s work in one day that's also helping the environment." (Volunteer, WHS Ltd., Plymouth)

The most rewarding part was "helping the school and realising what an impact we made and how grateful the school was. Also it was a fantastic team bonding experience. Everyone had a brilliant time." (Volunteer, Momentum, London)

Quotes from Community Groups:

"The volunteers were amazing. They worked really hard all day and showed real initiative and generosity. They were a pleasure to work with." (Martin Primary School, London)

An unexpected benefit to working with Business Volunteers was.... "the positive response to our school's needs by the whole team. The tirelessness and effort put in by the volunteers in a project in which they are not stakeholders. The excellent role models they were to the pupils in our school." (Maryland Primary School, Stratford, London)

The most rewarding part in working with businesses was... "seeing empowered people working together to make a difference with no agendas other than improving our local environment." (Friends of the Freshney, Hull)