DJS volunteering days — what will you do with yours?

1st December 2022 01:28

All staff at DJS Research are given the opportunity to volunteer at a charity of their choice every year for a day - and get paid for doing so! As we set upon a new year, we thought we'd share a few of our most recent volunteering stories and the organisations our employees have chosen to support.

Towards the end of last year, Project Assistant Alex Noden and Research Assistant Rachel Harman chose to volunteer at The Bread and Butter Thing in Trafford, while HR assistant, Rahat Imran, donated her time to Cancer Research UK located in Stockport town centre.

Research Director, Ali Sims, also shares her story following volunteering for the charity, Missing People — helping out at a concert at Manchester Monastery.

Here's a little bit of what they got up to...

The Bread and Butter Thing in Trafford

Alex and Rachel undertook a day of volunteering together at The Bread and Butter Thing in Trafford. The award-winning project delivers high-quality surplus food that would otherwise go to waste to dedicated hubs across Manchester on a weekly basis (saving it from rotting in landfill!).

Thousands of families across 80 areas are helped every week, with the need for the organisation's services continually growing. A new warehouse is to open shortly in Darlington, with another three planned for the north of England/ Midlands in the near future. The project currently has just 13 permanent members of staff so heavily relies on the help of volunteers to run its food club which has 45,000 members.

The organisation is also working to set up warm hubs to give people who need support a warm place to sit and have a warm drink or a cup-a-soup.

Rachel said of her time spent with The Bread and Butter Thing:

"I really enjoyed our volunteering day, I used to work in a local charity, and it never ceased to amaze me how much time and effort people are putting in everyday just to help other people get by. Doing a volunteer day was a good reminder that this support is going on all the time, and it doesn’t take much to make a difference. These charities will be there for us and our families if we ever need it, so it is nice to be there for them, even in a very small way! (Plus it was also a good laugh!).

Alex encourages colleagues at DJS who would like to make use of their volunteering day but are not sure about where to do it to get in touch with TBBT.

"TBBT is such a great charity and a great team, and I really felt like we were able to make a difference and were doing valued work," she said.

"Everyone was really friendly, and it was a great place to help out, so if any of you are stuck on where to use your charity day, I would highly recommend it. They did ask us if anyone else from work would be able to go along, either as a team or as an individual, and we said we hoped so!"

Find out more about The Bread and Butter Thing

Cancer Research UK - Stockport Branch

Rahat spent her day working alongside volunteers at Stockport's Cancer Research UK store where she got involved in a range of tasks including sorting through donated bags, printing and attaching gift aid labels and displaying donations on the shop floor.

Rahat said of the experience: "The staff were lovely to work with and very welcoming. Most of the staff were volunteers and the charity is always in need for more. They had bags and bags of donations that needed sorting through, and not enough hands!

Urging DJS colleagues to get in touch if they would like to volunteer, she said: "If you are thinking of where to use your charity day, you could consider Cancer Research UK. There is a shop in Marple too and they would be happy for volunteers. I will definitely return there next year!

Find out more about Cancer Research UK

Missing People

Finally, Research Director, Ali, spent her day at Manchester Monastery volunteering for the charity, Missing People.

Missing People is dedicated to reconnecting missing people and their loved ones. It offers support to people affected by a disappearance and can launch a publicity appeal to help bring missing people home.

Speaking about her experience, Ali said:

"I used my DJS volunteering day to support Missing People at a concert at Manchester Monastery – I ushered people to their seats, the loos, etc, and shook a bucket to collect donations at the end. It was an emotional evening, and I met some amazing people, all with different reasons for volunteering and there was a real sense of comradery. Plus, I’d never even heard of Manchester Monastery and it’s such a cool building — plus I got to listen to Christmas songs all evening. I’ve put my name down for next year!"

Find out more about Missing People