Staff win honours for volunteering work in schools
HINCKLEY and Rugby Building Society won two awards for its staff members’ volunteering in schools and colleges.
The group won the Outstanding Contribution to Education and Outstanding Contribution to Number Partners, in awards organised by volunteering charity Leicestershire Cares.
Number Partners is a numeracy project, involving volunteers playing maths games with school pupils.
The society started taking part in 2012, since when it has supported seven and eight year olds at Manorfield Primary School in Stoney Stanton.
Eight staff members now take part in the scheme each week.
Staff from the society were also finalists in two more categories, including Denise Bradshaw, up for Education Volunteer, and Carla Loughrey, who was up for Volunteer of the Year.
The company as a whole was also a finalist for Company of the Year.
Since 2012, society volunteers have also helped with Leicestershire Cares’ literacy project Go for Reading, first at Hastings School in Burbage and since 2015 at Hinckley Academy.
One of the Go for Reading volunteers is Denise Bradshaw, who has also taken part in Leicestershire Cares’ Interview Technique sessions, where school and college leavers are given a mock job interview.
The society has supported Interview Technique sessions in 13 different schools in the past two years, with 13 volunteers taking part in at least one session.
Denise, executive assistant to chief executive Colin Fyfe, said: “Leicestershire Cares is a great opportunity to get involved with the young people in our local community, helping them to develop in areas in which they may need a little extra support.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed being part this and hope that they have gained as much from the experience as I have.”
Most recently, Colin Fyfe went into Rushey Mead School to talk to students about careers in finance and accounting.
Mr Fyfe and two colleagues also gave care leavers some tips and strategies to help them manage their money as they move into independent living.
Carla Loughrey, the society’s assistant marketing and PR manager, coordinates the society staff’s volunteering of their time and energy to support Leicestershire Cares with its initiatives to help people, charities and community groups.
She is also an enthusiastic volunteer herself, leading by example in several projects including Number Partners.
The awards were presented at the annual Leicestershire Cares Awards ceremony, held at Winstanley House in Leicester.