Financial Protection specialist Unum, which has offices in Basingstoke, Dorking and Bristol, has been named as national charity Thrive’s Corporate Volunteer of the Year.
Volunteers are the backbone of Thrive – the UK’s leading charity which uses social and therapeutic horticulture to help disabled people transform their lives.
Each year the charity, which is based near Reading in Berkshire, holds its Volunteer of the Year Awards to recognise and thank the individuals and companies who give their time throughout the year.
Thrive has received 12,000 hours of support from individual volunteers in the last six months alone. Over the same period 17 corporate teams gave 14,000 hours, equating to £100,000 in monetary terms.
Unum sent 16 staff members from its three offices to spend the day helping Thrive in July, 2011.
One task – a physical one – moving bricks and rubble to the area of Thrive’s new garden build, was completed with so much enthusiasm and dedication that they left a lasting impression on the staff at the charity.
Volunteer co-ordinator Jan Panting, said: "The team from Unum knew that by taking such a boring and physical task on it would make such an impact on Thrive staff and clients. As far as they were concerned they would make this job as interesting as possible!
"They brought laughter, strength and commitment to getting a job done!"
Alan Wilmot from Unum said: "This was our third year at Thrive and we all love coming here.
"As well as it being a great team building day for our staff, we know that the time we have spent at Thrive has made a huge impact.
"What’s great is that we have never been asked to do the same thing. We hope to be back again next year."
The awards were presented by Mary Bayliss, Thrive Patron and the lord-Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire.
Mrs Bayliss said: "Volunteers are the backbone of all charities so I believe this event is so important in recognising what they do," she said.
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For more information please contact PR and Comms Manager Alyson Chorley on 0118 988 5688 or e-mail alyson.chorley@thrive.org.uk