Each of our team is offered eight hours of working time every year to volunteer. We hear from some of them about what they do with their volunteering hours.
At Poppy’s, we’re proud to offer our team the opportunity to each take eight hours of working time every year to volunteer for a cause that matters to them.
As a B Corp, we’re committed to making a difference to our community. But we also know that volunteering can be fun and fulfilling, and we encourage the team to offer their time to something they’ll enjoy.
We spoke to some of our team members about what they do with their volunteering hours, and why.
Our Office Administrator Nichola is a member of the PTFA at Smallwood Primary School and Language Unit - a school minutes away from our headquarters in Tooting.
As a local school serving children with a complexity of needs, the PTFA hosts events and fundraising activities to benefit children and families who may otherwise experience exclusion. “A portion of the money we raise goes towards subsidising our events so that children who would otherwise not be able to attend won’t be left out,” Nichola says.
If it wasn’t for the eight volunteering hours available to her through Poppy’s, Nichola may not be able to maintain her commitments at Smallwood. “Instead, I’ve been able to help out at three or four events this year.”
Nichola appreciates being able to contribute to a cause that benefits her own community – which aligns perfectly with Poppy’s commitments as a B Corp. “There’s something about giving something back to the people in your own ‘village’,” she says. “My youngest daughter leaves the school in July, but I plan to stay on the PTFA, as it has a special place in my heart.”
Our Head of Marketing Benvon, volunteers in a couple of different capacities. One of those roles is as a bereavement volunteer with Cruse, the bereavement support charity. She supports one bereaved individual at a time over the course of six weeks.
“Having experienced three significant bereavements, Cruse feels like a good place to offer my time – and my ears!” Benvon says. “I get enormous satisfaction from being able to be alongside somebody when they’re in often very challenging situations. It’s a privilege to support them.”
Benvon also volunteers with the Champagne Reception fundraising committee at St Christopher’s Hospice. Committee meetings tend to be during work hours, so her Poppy’s volunteering hours enable her to attend those meetings.
Benvon also appreciates the things she learns though her volunteering experiences. “These experiences have developed another part of me, and I bring this back into the workplace – so it’s a nice exchange.”
Our CEO Clare is a trustee at Centrepoint, the national youth homelessness charity.
“I’ve always been interested and committed to causes that tackle inequalities, and in particular, those for children and young people,” Clare says. “Centrepoint work with some of the most vulnerable young people that you can imagine – care leavers, those estranged from family and friends, girls (typically) at risk of sexual exploitation and those involved in gangs. They do the most amazing work to help turn around some of those really entrenched disadvantages, and giving young people a fresh start.”
“It means a lot to me to know that my employer will support me in terms of time out to do this work,” Clare says.
Clare is stepping down from trusteeship with Centrepoint now after nine years. “I can look for a new volunteering opportunity, confident that the business is not only happy for me to do this, but actively champions my spending time in the community.”
Find out more about Volunteers' Week.