Member Article

York accountants volunteering scheme in action

Clive Owen LLP has joined York Cares, the local employee-volunteering charity bringing businesses, employees and communities together to make York a better place.

Three members of the York office were given a day’s volunteering leave to support the York Cares Big Community Challenge, a month-long project engaging nearly 600 volunteers in the transformation of river and wetland areas in the city.

Volunteering has benefits for both colleagues and the charities they give time to. With economic uncertainties and the cost-of-living crisis impacting local communities, Clive Owen LLP recognises that it is important to support their team to give something back and offers one day’s paid volunteering leave each year for all colleagues.

Clive Owen LLP has always put itself at the heart of the community. The firm also recognises the benefits volunteering can provide including the social interaction, wellbeing and work experience aspects which can be transferred back into the workplace.

Carl Wright, partner at Clive Owen LLP leads the sustainability focus for the firm and said: “Supporting local causes has always been a priority for Clive Owen LLP. The firm regularly takes part in fundraisers and the York team already supports the York Foodbank as many people in the city struggle with the cost-of-living crisis.

“We have set up a drop off point, situated in our office on Northminster Business Park, and have already had dozens of donations.

“We would like to give more to these good causes, by utilising a policy we have had in place for a number of years.

“It would be great if we could encourage local charities to approach us with opportunities to enable our colleagues to support more projects and enjoy all the benefits of volunteering.”

Helen Cozens, Lisa Fletcher and Louise Harrison all spent a day with the York Cares Big Community Challenge maintaining a local wildlife pond, which is used as an outdoor space for local schools.

Administration assistant Helen said: “As I haven’t volunteered before, I didn’t know what to expect. However, it was an enjoyable afternoon as we felt we’d accomplished something, had a bit of a workout, and York Cares were very appreciative of what we did.”

Audit manager Lisa said: “It was a great opportunity to give something back to our local community.”

Holly Hennell, Manager, York Cares said: “We are delighted that Clive Owen LLP has joined York Cares and is one of a growing number of employers who are committed to making York a better place through employee-volunteering. It was great to see some of their staff involved in our Big Community Challenge alongside other York employers and we are looking forward to getting more staff involved in the future.”

The firms volunteering scheme has also been taken up by several other colleagues including audit and accounts associate Bailey Crossland, who recently completed his Gold Duke of Edinburgh award by volunteering across Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Bailey was able to take his volunteering day as part of this overseas adventure.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by News Gathering .