Volunteering Stories

Ethos is working with MLS to encourage MLS staff to use their 2 staff volunteering days. Each MLS staff member is entitled to 2 days per year to be used for a volunteering project of their choice...

City Action - 02/10/2007
Ethos are working closely with a community development organisations, City Action. Based in London, their objective is connecting city businesses with in-need development organisations; City Action specialise in supporting London companies in establishing an employee skills-based volunteering programme.

This is something that both Ethos and MLS are passionate about. Each MLS employee can take up to 2 Charity Days per year. Ethos have developed with City Action opportunities for staff to pass on key skills in mentoring younger staff; offering HR and Financial advice to the unemployed; teach communities skills in conflict management and offering CV advice and work experience.

It is a common misconception to view charity as needing to give money, instead here is a scheme unconcerned with wealth, rather tackling the greater issue which is distribute skills and experience. You can volunteer to tackle issues of unemployment, lack of education and lack of confidence. In sharing skills it is possible to provide people with second chances, an incredible restoring gift to an individual and to a community.

If you would like to volunteer for one of these projects please contact info@ethosmls.co.uk who will organise a placement for you or look at
www.city-action.org for further details

Invest in people, Empower people…

Opportunities For You!! - 25/07/2007
You can gain an extra two days' holiday per year... If you volunteer for a registered charity at any time during the week or at the weekend you can claim up to two working days back.

Here are some options available to you:

1.
With : St James The Less
What : Homeless Shelter
Where : Vauxhall
When : Thursdays
6.30pm-9.30pm
Worth : ½ day
Doing : Joining the existing team of volunteers. Helping to set up tables, serve food, wash up, clear tables etc.

2.
With : City Gateway
What : Centre Insight Tours
Where : Your Centres
When : Anytime!
Worth : ½ day
Doing : At least 3 City Gateway staff bring a group of up to 15 trainees to your offices for a tour around the different departments, with a focus on meeting people in those departments where there are entry-level jobs.

3.
With : City Gateway
What : Employability Talks
Where : E1, London
When : Anytime!
Worth : ½ day or 1 day
Doing : One or a small group of MLS staff join City Gateway in Spitalfields for one of their employability workshops to talk to their trainees about important skills and jobs in our business.

4.
With : City Gateway
What : Work Placements
Where : Your Centres
When : Anytime!
Worth : 1 or 2 days
Doing : One or more trainees, who have been trained and mentored in Employability Skills by City Gateway staff and have been specially selected, come on placements with one of your departments to work at a basic level.

5.
With : City Gateway
What : Mock Interviews
Where : Your Centres
When : Anytime!
Worth : ½ or 1 day
Doing : We receive CVs for a group of trainees who have been trained in Employability Skills and they come to the centre to be interviewed for a job they are actually or potentially applying for, giving feedback at the end.

All you need to do is send a letter from the charity on their headed paper to Julie Rose and these two days will be added to your yearly annual leave total. These need to be requested in the usual way on a holiday request form. If you already have links with a Charity you can apply to organise charity days there too...
If any of these options appeal to you then please email info@ethosmls.co.uk and let us know.

Small steps do make a difference...

Centre For Social Justice - 25/07/2007
Steve Hughes recently used his volunteering days working for The Centre for Social Justice. This is a social think tank set up by Iain Duncan-Smith and run by Philippa Stroud, both Conservative Party representatives. The ‘CSJ’ has pioneered effective work into understanding child poverty and promoting the role of the family in the UK, including a groundbreaking report called ‘Breakthough Britain’.

Steve spent his time researching ways of improving Health Care in under-resourced areas in the South of England and writing speeches petitioning for hospitals to stay open in Sutton & Cheam.

For further information on upcoming initiatives look at http://www.centreforsocialjustice.com/

Volunteers Work Miracles... - 03/07/2007
MLS Director, Steve Baker, has been making a huge impact recently voluteering for ‘I Believe in Miracles’, an exciting company who specialises in sourcing and selling fashion products made in India. Steve has been involved in providing free consultancy helping to build their vision and network. Steve regularly meets with the Co-ordinators to hear their initiatives and successes, offering support and advice.

I Believe in Miracles use ‘Tupperware’ style parties to sell their products, so keep an eye out... Their work in India provides employment and income to many communities in need. Ethos are fully supportive and enthusiastic about the growth of this project.

http://www.ibelieveinmiracles.co.uk/

MLS Gardeners... - 03/07/2007
On a bright Sunday afternoon a group of enthusiastic gardeners assembled at a neglected residential garden area, behind our Lyon House Business Centre. With spade in hand Keare Pearce-Downey, our SCSR at Russell Square and Southampton Place, took on the challenge of developing this untamed area.

The garden connects 3 high-rise tower blocks and was in considerable need of attention. The team worked at restoring some colour to the flower beds and removing much of the glass debris scattered around the park. One afternoon’s handiwork can have such an impact locally, as the park was left looking glamorous and ready for an invasion of young children.

ACTS - 29/06/2007
More MLS staff are making the most of their charity days. Sam Hardwick is involved with a Charity called ACTS. They organise over 12 innovative projects including sports events, fun days and training courses impacting underprivileged estates in Lincoln.

Every week they run an event where over 90 people from the local community come and receive top grade food and clothing. Those attending are often homeless, drunk or struggling in the midst of poverty. The initiative is building momentum and the community is beginning to feel the difference.

If you would like to use your charity days to help with some of ACTS’ initiatives, please contact Sam Hardwick.

MLS aim for 100 staff volunteering days in 2007! - 02/03/2007
Ethos is working with MLS to encourage MLS staff to use their 2 staff volunteering days. Each MLS staff member is entitled to 2 days per year to be used for a volunteering project of their choice.

Once you've gone through the normal holiday procedures all you need to do is to get a signed letter from your charity, with their charity registration number, which says that you've completed the work with them, and send it off to HR. It's as easy as that!

If you know of any charities that need volunteers then let us know and we can try and promote it!