employee volunteering days: good for business, great for the cause
Kat Anastasiou, Producer for The Team & TNN Meeting Host
My volunteering journey was born from a personal experience.
In Summer 2015, my Mum, Angela, passed away following a return of her cancer. When she passed, I felt like a huge part of me had gone with her.
And it wasn’t coming back any time soon, especially when, less than 4 years later, my Dad, Nick, passed away too.
Did he die of a broken heart? Probably. My heart hasn’t been the same since.
In 2023, my bereavement counsellor suggested that I join a grief group as part of my therapy.
That was when I discovered The New Normal: a space created for people to come together with others who not only acknowledged, but understood, the nuances of grief.
Kat with her Mother
The group was a revelation.
Volunteering was something I felt strongly about. It’s such a worthwhile way to channel my pain into something that could help others in the same position. And the training is free! It really was a no-brainer. How could I not?
Last year, I decided to take the Volunteering Day offered to us by ‘The Team’ and make it into something that would keep giving back.
If they hadn’t offered a staff volunteering day, I might not be doing this today.
It’s such an important benefit to offer in the workspace. The 25% of employers that aren’t doing so are missing a huge opportunity to engage their employees.
There are so many charities that need support, and just this small amount of time can help so many.
And my journey shows that you can ultimately use the time offered to grow this into something much bigger.
Not only does it support their ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) Policy, it helps personal growth and ultimately adds more skills to an employee’s repertoire.
A win-win for everyone.
Kat with her mother and father
Interested in volunteering with The New Normal? Get in touch!