Volunteers’ Week is a chance to recognise the time, care and energy people give to causes that matter to them. At See Media, volunteering looks different for everyone. For some, it means giving regular time to a club or community group. For others, it is fundraising, practical support or using professional skills to help people who need an extra hand. What links it all is a willingness to contribute in ways that make everyday life a little better for others.
Team volunteering stories
That is clear in the different ways our team members volunteer outside work. Stuart Macdonald, our Managing Director, supports his local community through sport, serving as a trustee of Largo Cricket Club and coaching the Largo Lions junior cricketers. His housing expertise is put to good use as a non-executive director of Homes for Good Scotland.
Stacey Cooper, our Copywriter & Publications Manager, volunteers as Communications Officer for her local running club, producing its monthly e-newsletter as well as marshalling at races organised by the club. Stacey has also volunteered to read with classes at her local school, ensuring all children get a chance to love stories as much as she does.
Well known for giving her time in several ways, our Senior Director, Sarah Thomas, volunteers as Midlands Co-Secretary for the CIPR, is chair of a school PTA (despite the fact that her children have now all left the school!) and is also a volunteer driver for Re-Engage, a charity that works to reduce loneliness in later life.
Also supporting her local school, Jade Ziola-Sammons, our Senior Account Director, is contributing her creative, digital and project management skills to create a new and improved website with a group of parents and school representatives.
Sally Saunders, our Business Manager, also supports a range of charities throughout the year by making crafts to sell for fundraising, baking cakes for local nursing home residents and organising food and toy collections for local causes. She also began a bee and wildlife regeneration project in her area.
For each team member, being able to support local or national groups, whether it’s through PR and communications support or something closer to their other passions and hobbies, is an important part of life.
At See Media, supporting charities and local communities is something we actively value, which is why every employee is given two days of work time each year to volunteer. It is a small but important way of making space for people to contribute their time and skills to causes they care about.
Community engagement
More team members are planning to use those days this year, with our Account Manager Harriett Bolton offering PR support to a new café local to her in Yorkshire and Kasturi Mazumder, our Junior Account Executive, planning to support a charity in India that encourages children’s reading through regular sessions.
We also fundraise for a chosen charity each year, raising thousands of pounds for organisations such as The Buddy Bag Foundation, Zarach, Save the Children and this year supporting Helping Homeless Veterans UK through team walking challenges and other activities.
Volunteers’ Week is a useful reminder that volunteering comes in all shapes and sizes. It can be a few hours a month, a skill shared with a local group, or time given to a national charity consistently over many years. No matter how big or small the contribution, it can make a difference and improve lives.
