Volunteering is more than just an act of kindness – it’s a powerful force for change. Across the UK, millions of people volunteer every year, enriching lives, strengthening communities, and creating a culture of compassion and resilience.
At Churchill Group, we strive to create a positive impact through our specialist services and encourage our teams to make a difference in their communities with two paid volunteering days per year.
As we mark Volunteers’ Week this year, we want to spotlight some of the many incredible initiatives our colleagues have taken part in this year. So far, amongst our group of specialist businesses our colleagues logged an impressive 1,984 volunteering hours, actively supporting 30 charities and community groups, 45 community initiatives, as well as 16 initiatives supporting skills and school visits.
Here are just a few stories of our amazing colleagues across the group embodying our values beyond the workplace.
Supporting Age UK in Harpenden
Our colleagues, Carmen Neagu and Natasha Needham recently spent a day volunteering at the Age UK charity shop in Harpenden.
With Age UK shops located across the country and heavily reliant on volunteers, Carmen and Natasha were keen to get involved and support where it was most needed. After completing the application and vetting process, they joined the shop team for the day and gained an insight into the work that goes into keeping a busy charity shop running smoothly.
Their day started with a tour of the shop and its upstairs sorting area, where donations are unpacked, labelled, and steamed. Their first task was to help sort and prepare stock for transfer to other stores.
From there, Carmen moved on to steaming clothes ready for the shop floor, whilst Natasha operated the till – even stepping into the role of personal stylist to help two shoppers find head-to-toe outfits for the Easter weekend.
The Glades joins the Great British Spring Clean
There’s nothing quite like a good spring clean to freshen things up – and that’s exactly what our team at The Glades Shopping Centre in Bromley recently did.
Our volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help tidy up key community areas, including Church House, Library Gardens, and Bromley town centre.
Working side-by-side, the team gave these spaces extra care and attention, collecting over 26kg of waste – made up of 8.75kg of general waste, 17.16kg of mixed recycling, and 0.26kg of paper cups.
That’s a strong 66% recycling rate, showing the impact we can have when we work together with sustainability in mind.
Empowering young people through skills and support
As part of our partnership with AFK (Action For Kids), which supports disabled children, young people, and their families, a number of our colleagues recently delivered an employability skills session to a group of supported young learners.
Andrea Wood, our Learning & Development Manager, led a morning workshop on personal branding and values, helping participants explore how their strengths, values, and individuality can shape their professional presence and support them during interviews and beyond.
In the afternoon, our team facilitated a series of mock interviews, giving the young people the opportunity to apply their learning in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Feedback from both AFK and the young people was overwhelmingly positive – our colleagues’ person-centred approach was highlighted and appreciated by everyone who attended.
We’re proud to support AFK’s vital work and look forward to continuing our shared mission of empowering the next generation.
Pitching in at London Zoo
Our security team recently spent a day volunteering at ZSL London Zoo, supporting the Hoofstock team in the Intro Africa section. The team rolled up their sleeves to take on physically demanding but rewarding tasks, including cleaning out ostrich dens and tidying other animal areas.
The day of volunteering wrapped up with a guided tour of the zoo, with our team having a deeper appreciation of the ongoing effort, dedication, and commitment involved in maintaining high standards of welfare for the animals.
A great example of a different, but equally meaningful, way our colleagues are making a difference through volunteering – supporting ZSL’s ongoing efforts to provide safe, enriching environments for all its residents and contributing to the vital conservation work of the zoo and its dedicated staff.
The impact of volunteering
These are just a few of the many ways our colleagues across Churchill Group are using their time, energy, and skills to make a positive impact in their communities.
Whether it’s supporting a local charity shop, mentoring young people, helping keep public spaces clean, or assisting with animal welfare, each volunteering initiative represents a commitment to care, connection, and community.
For our colleagues, these experiences are as personally rewarding as they are impactful:
We’re incredibly proud of our colleagues who have given their time to make a difference and look forward to seeing how our teams continue to bring our values to life, both in and outside work.