WIREDGOV

Welsh Assembly Government Permanent Secretary Dame Gillian and her staff volunteered for the Glyncoch Communities First Partnership’s Summer Challenge, to highlight the benefits employee volunteering can have for staff and communities alike.  

During the day the Assembly Government team joined local volunteers carrying out a variety of tasks on the project, which involves clearing a ‘grotspot’ at Garth Avenue and redeveloping it with planting, landscaping and a sculpture project.  The scheme builds on the success of a similar summer challenge project in the area last year. Photographs of the day were taken by Angus Pirrie, a volunteer with the Glyncoch Communities Partnership.

Dame Gillian said:

“Employee volunteering can be a great way of building and developing teams.  It enables employees, both in the public and private sectors to engage with the communities they serve or are located in.

“I can think of no better way of promoting workplace volunteering than getting out into the community and leading by example. We encourage everyone working at the Assembly Government to take the opportunity and we run an annual award scheme.  We are very proud of our record on this.”

Social Justice Minister, Dr Brian Gibbons, said the Assembly Government encouraged a culture of volunteering, demonstrated by investment in initiatives such as GwirVol, the youth volunteering project, and the ‘Give a little, Gain a Lot’ campaign he launched in June to encourage more people to volunteer.

“Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, gain confidence and possibly have a little fun along the way.  It’s also an opportunity to try something different and gain new skills which could lead to a new career, a new direction in life, or just a new interest.”

Related Links

Employee volunteering

How everyone can benefit by supporting employees to volunteer.

How to volunteer

Volunteering Wales is a dedicated website aimed at providing advice and support to those who are looking for volunteering opportunities.