University of York nominated for Citizenship and Volunteering award
Posted on 18 November 2008
The awards are a celebration of work that has made a real difference to people’s lives over the past 12 months. The University is one of three organisations to be shortlisted in the Citizenship and Volunteering category, with the winner to be announced in London on 25 November 2008.
It has been a real privilege to work with so many people, all committed to bringing about positive change in the city where we live and work
Jacqui Tesselment, Manager of York Cares
Founded in 2005, York Cares aims to strengthen links between employers, employees and communities, by operating a tailored programme of volunteering activities. The University plays a pivotal role in the charity, employing a team of dedicated staff and sitting alongside community and business stakeholders on the York Cares Board.
York Cares has enlisted over 2,000 volunteers, and they have given more than 10,000 hours to community activities. Over 200 University of York employees have offered their time and expertise to projects including ‘Starting Blocks’, a scheme to equip young care-leavers with employability skills and work experience, and weekly lunchtime volunteering, team challenges and ‘lifeswap’ activities, such as taking a few hours to chat elderly people or helping to renovate a piece of public land.
The University recently led a successful bid to the charity ‘V’ on behalf of York Cares, which has yielded an investment of £300K to enable the development of new volunteering opportunities for all young people. To mark the launch of v@yorkcares, 100 young volunteers spent half term week renovating the Heworth Lighthouse Young People’s Centre in Tang Hall.
Jacqui Tesselment, Manager of York Cares, said: "Over the last few years, I have been overwhelmed by the goodwill of employees from the University and a wide range of employers who have given up their time for the benefit of the local community,
"When people from very different workplaces, cultures and of different levels of seniority come together to tackle social issues in the city, exciting things happen! It has been a real privilege to work with so many people, all committed to bringing about positive change in the city where we live and work."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- York Cares is an independent charity promoting employee volunteering. It is led by local employers and nationally affiliated to Business in the Community, a unique movement of over 700 of the UK’s top companies.
- v@yorkcares is a city-wide consortium which includes eight schools, York College, The University of York, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, Friends of St. Nicholas Fields, City of York Council Young People’s Services, Yorkshire MESMAC and employer members of York Cares.
- The University, along with City of York Council, Corus, Garbutt and Elliott and Norwich Union, is a founder member of York Cares, and has played a pivotal role in establishing the charity.
- Jacqui Tesselment, Manager of York Cares, is based at The University of York, and can be contacted on 01904 432499 York Cares is one of 26 Cares programmes across the UK.
- York Cares’ member organisations are: Benenden Healthcare Society, Best Western Hotels, City of York Council, Corus, CPP, Garbutt & Elliott, HSBC, Marriott Hotel, Mott MacDonald, Norwich Union, Rollits Solicitors, Shepherd Building Group, The Partners Group, The University of York, York and County Press