Corporate and group volunteering at Anchor

Anchor is England's largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for older people and everyday our residents enjoy meeting and socialising with our active group of dedicated volunteers.

We recognise and value the positive impact volunteering makes to people’s lives, not only the residents but equally those who give their time for the benefit of others.

Corporate and group volunteering demonstrates a genuine commitment to helping the local community, nurtures positive attitude, realigns perceptions and helps employees feel really good about the place they work. In fact it’s widely acknowledged that volunteering can increase employee job satisfaction, improve recruitment and retention and give colleagues the opportunity to collaborate together have a meaningful impact on their local community.

Over the years Anchor has facilitated a wide range of corporate and group volunteering opportunities often linked to recognised calendar events or at times when there is a need for increased publicity or interest. Here are just a few examples of the type of activities volunteers can take part in and the positive impact corporate volunteering can have:

Yorkshire Building Society

Volunteers from Yorkshire Building Society have spent time at Ashcroft care home in Bradford decorating corridors and brightening up resident’s doors. Louise Neill, Volunteering Manager at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “Helping the elderly and vulnerable in our society is one of our key strategic priorities and our partnership with Anchor allows us make a meaningful and lasting impact.”

Keepmoat

Keepmoat engineers assembled a new greenhouse for the residents at Anchor’s Queen Elizabeth Court in Lancashire to ensure they could grow their seedlings in time for the summer months. Julie Baker, Community Liaison Manager at Keepmoat said: “We are helping to not only ensure that resident groups can continue with their valuable projects but also to enhance the wellbeing of those who get involved in the gardening.”

Allianz Insurance

Volunteers from Allianz Insurance have spent time at Godiva Lodge care home in Coventry decorating communal areas and gardening for residents. Charlotte Richardson, Training & Development Manager at Allianz Insurance said: “We were able to make a difference to the environment of people living with dementia – a real passion for our team, and a focus in which we take back to our workplace.”

Leeds Action Group

Students from the University of Leeds, part of the Leeds Action Group, volunteer at Halcyon Court care home in Headingley on a regular basis. The students organise a wide range of activities with residents, including reminiscence sessions, salsa, ballroom and Irish dancing, jewellery making, sing-alongs and live music performances.