Tag Archives: Charity

Charity, Charity Headlines, North Yorkshire, Out & About, York

Volunteers Preserve York’s Green Spaces & Wildlife Habitats

Volunteers from insurance giant Aviva have spruced up some of the city’s green spaces and preserved wildlife habitats during a week-long challenge organised by employee-volunteering charity York Cares.

More than 90 volunteers from the company’s York, London and Norwich offices spent 25 hours over four sessions at Greenfields Community Garden, Millennium Bridge, Glen Gardens and Clifton flood bank, with support from environmental charity St Nick’s.

The challenges included weeding and tidying community gardens in readiness for winter, making green spaces more accessible by cutting back nettles and brambles, planting flowers, and preserving wildlife habitats and natural vegetation.

Jonathan Warner, Volunteering Exec at Aviva said: “The Aviva volunteering week is a celebration of all the ways our people are supporting their communities and a chance to encourage others to get involved.”

“We all get 21 hours (3 days) paid volunteering leave a year at Aviva, yet sometimes it may be difficult to find time to volunteer amongst the competing demands of our busy work schedules. Volunteering Week allows us to shine a light on the benefits of volunteering to both the individual and the business while promoting the range of opportunities offered by our volunteering partners.”

“We have had the privilege of working with York Cares for several years and for Volunteering Week 2022 we co-created a ‘sign up’ volunteering event for individual Aviva volunteers to contribute to a green corridor project being undertaken by St Nick’s. This gives our people the chance to not only contribute to a local conservation project but also be able to meet with other like-minded Aviva colleagues from around the office.”

Kali Klimentova, Volunteering Support Officer at York Cares said: “We are delighted to be able to support Aviva’s Volunteering Week and to be able to provide activities to bring together employees from across Aviva to make a difference in York. It is a fantastic opportunity for us to partner with St Nick’s and support their work in the city.”

Employee-volunteering charity York Cares matches the skills and expertise of employers and their employees to community projects where they can have most impact. Their volunteers give over 10,000 hours of their own time each year to over 200 worthwhile community organisations and schools in some of York’s most disadvantaged areas.

For more information and to get involved visit www.yorkcares.co.uk.

Charity Headlines, Community, Council News, Kingston Upon Hull, News

Local Charities Benefit From Maritime Museum’s Scrap Metal

Two local charities have received donations totalling more £5,500 from the Yorkshire-based contractor transforming the Hull Maritime Museum, thanks to spare scrap from the building.

Simpson (York) Limited have given the proceeds from the metal waste to Hull4Heroes and Mind Hull and East Yorkshire. The donations of £3,000 to Hull4Heroes and £2,500 to Mind Hull and East Yorkshire respectively, were made possible through the recycling and resale of scrap metal from Hull Maritime Museum.

The monies were raised by the reclamation of existing fixtures and fittings that were not part of the restoration process, and thus used for the good of local charities and to give back to the local community.

Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “Converting scrap metal waste from the Maritime Museum into money for local charities and businesses is a great initiative by our heritage contractor, Simpson (York) Limited.”

“The scheme benefits local communities, giving something back to those who do incredible work, offering vital support to those who need it.”

Kevin Batty, Contracts Manager at Simpson (York) Limited, said: “We are delighted to be able to be able to support the local community where we are currently working in Hull. Both these charities provide fantastic support to individuals within the Hull and East Riding area and need support from others to continue their amazing work.”

Paul Matson from Hull4Heroes, said: “Simpson (York) Limited gifted our charity £3,000, this will make a huge difference to veterans in the local area, the amount of funds we received was a great surprise and a very welcome relief, without the generosity of local people and local companies we would struggle to survive, thank you so much to all at Simpsons.”

Dan Warren, Director of Development at Hull and East Yorkshire Mind, said: ‘We were delighted to receive the generous donation from Simpson. As a local charity we are amazed by the generosity of our supporters, who provide us funds to help work with local people when they need it the most.

“We have seen a substantial increase in the number of people accessing our services and as such we continue to seek supporters to help us match that need.”

“For Simpson (York) Limited to pick us to donate to, shows their commitment to making a difference to the wellbeing of people in Hull and East Yorkshire.”

The refurbishment of Hull Maritime Museum is part of Hull Maritime, a locally-led project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Other elements include the restoration of two of Hull’s much-loved ships – Spurn Lightship and the Arctic Corsair, and the creation of a new visitor attraction and the new home for the fishing trawler at the North End Shipyard.

Food & Drink News, Health & Welfare, News Headlines

Yorkshire’s Arco Partnership Supports Hundreds Of Families In Scotland

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More than 300 children, young people and their families in the Glasgow and South Lanarkshire area have been supported as part of a partnership between Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, and children and family charity, Action for Children.

Following Arco’s success in securing a contract to supply products and services to NHS Scotland, the fifth-generation family business linked up with Action for Children to fund two new roles supporting young people and disabled children.

Action for Children supports children and young people across the UK, providing practical and emotional care and support, ensuring their voices are heard, and campaigning to bring lasting improvements to their lives.

The partnership with Arco has funded the recruitment of a Community Support Worker and a Trainer/Qualifications Assessor within the organisation.

The additional Community Support Worker is based at the recently refurbished Silverton Community Hub, a centre specially designed to support children and young people with complex learning difficulties and a range of physical health needs. Staff at the community hub provide personalised support, helping children to overcome barriers that may hinder their involvement in the local community. Staff facilitate access to local community-based facilities, resources, networks and amenities, including swimming pools, gyms, youth groups, green spaces and museums. This empowers the children to pursue their own personal interests and preferences while growing their confidence, social skills and reducing isolation by supporting children to form new friendships. They provide regular support to parents, siblings and other family members too.

The Trainer/Qualifications Assessor is supporting Action for Children’s Youth Employability Project, a scheme that aims to help young people breakdown barriers to employment. Such barriers are addressed through valuable employability skills and vocational training, developing their aspirations, ambition and future job goals by encouraging their interest in learning. For some of the young people, the support they have been offered has helped them get the first qualification they’ve ever had.

Andy Owen, Head of Healthcare at Arco, said: “Arco is passionate about supporting the communities we call home and helping children and young people achieve.”

“We are really proud of what our partnership with Action for Children has accomplished to date.”

“The new members of staff are delivering tangible benefits and life-changing opportunities for children, young people and families in the Glasgow and South Lanarkshire area by helping to improve wellbeing, quality of life and personal outcomes for disabled children and by developing employability skills and vocational training for young people so they can progress into chosen careers.”

Grant McFarlane, Senior Relationships Manager at Action for Children, said: “Arco has provided direct financial support where Action for Children needed it most. There’s a wonderful lasting legacy for children, young people and families thanks to Arco’s funding.”

In addition to the funding allocated by Arco, colleagues from its healthcare team recently spent time helping to transform the garden at one of Action for Children’s short break centres so that vulnerable children and young people can play in a nurturing environment where they feel safe and are given the opportunity to thrive.

A video has been created to highlight the work of Arco’s partnership with Action for Children and to demonstrate how, as a business, Arco can help customers achieve their social value goals. Watch the video on You Tube here