This June marked round 3 of Berkeley Volunteering Month, with 58 colleagues giving over 300 hours to support the work of the Foundation’s charity partners.
From team gardening activities supporting our local communities, to cheering on hundreds of disabled young people at Lord’s Cricket Ground, colleagues have taken valuable time out of their day jobs to give back to the communities where Berkeley operates.
This volunteering time has also generated £18,000+ in additional unrestricted funding for our charity partners, provided through the Foundation’s match funding scheme.
The impact of volunteering is clear from the feedback we’ve received. It not only provides direct support to our charity partners; it also creates a real sense of connection between personal values, the work of our partners and the areas in which Berkeley operates.
What Did Colleagues Get Up To?
21 colleagues spent World Environment Day on theme – weeding, painting and maintaining the public garden at The Royal Foundation of St Katherine’s. The day was organised in collaboration with our Strategic Partner Groundwork London, and the Berkeley team was put to good use all day.
Cristina Jorge from Berkeley Capital comments on her experience:
“I enjoyed every single minute! Gardening is really special to me, as it connects me to my mother who was a landscape gardener back in Brazil. Spending a day to help make this garden a little piece of calm in busy London allowed me to reflect on her work, as well as seeing the benefits this garden brings to the community here.
As my mum always said: "We don’t need to chase the butterflies if we look after our own garden, the butterflies will come to you!"
One of the highlights in June is always the Finals of the Lord’s Taverners Table Cricket competition. Bringing together young people from SEND schools across the country, this event sees staff go back to volunteer year after year – it’s a day that truly showcases the power of inclusive sport. Liz Kuda, Disability Cricket Programme Manager, shares her gratitude on behalf of the team:
“A HUGE thank you for your help at the tournament. I have had schools getting in touch and saying what an incredible day they had. This wouldn't have been possible without all of you.”
Colleagues also helped Money Ready deliver its financial education workshops to young people, teaching them to recognise scams and become money-savvy, and supported
SPEAR London to deliver its Health Link sessions, working with clients experiencing homelessness to help them access services.
Berkeley Volunteering Month celebrates the year-round contribution that Berkeley staff make to our partnerships. Thank you to everyone who got involved this year.