[WiLT] Charities offered John Lewis volunteers on six-month secondments

[WiL Admin]

Charities offered John Lewis volunteers on six-month secondments

The John Lewis Partnership is offering charities a chance to take its
employees on secondments of up to six months as part of the retailer's
volunteering scheme.

More than 300 charities have received a total of 136,000 volunteering
hours from John Lewis and Waitrose employees since the foundation of
the partnership's Golden Jubilee Trust in 2000.

The trust awards about 50 secondments each year on a full or part-time
basis and assumes the employee's full pay to cover the placement. The
equivalent of 19,580 hours were donated to charities last year.

Chris Jones, secretary of the trust, said participating organisations
would benefit from the skills provided by the employees, known as
partners, from all levels. They receive secondments to help at
charities for up to six months.

"Many of the placements occur through partners' close ties with
charities, with personal experience triggering their involvement,"
said Jones. "These are often small, local organisations that struggle
with the type of resources, from IT to transport, that we take for
granted in the partnership."

Charities can find out more on the John Lewis website.

http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/DailyBulletin/864278/Charities-offered-John-Lewis-volunteers-six-month-secondments/4C5E300906C197F7BF0C38C1879E91DD/?DCMP=EMC-DailyBulletin


Golden Jubilee Trust

The Golden Jubilee Trust (GJT) was established as a charity in April
2000 as part of the Partnership's Golden Jubilee celebrations. Through
the charity any Partner, regardless of age, seniority or length of
service, can apply for a full- or part-time volunteering secondment
with a UK registered charity for up to six months.

Funded from the income of an initial investment by the Partnership of
£5 million, the awards are made by a board of trustees who are careful
to make sure that Partners skills are matched with the specific needs
of the charity that is being supported. Since it was founded, GJT has
supported more than 331 Partners who have given over 136,000 hours to
more than 330 UK charities, creating strong links with the community,
through care of the elderly, youth education, environmental
protection, the arts and many more.

The GJT provides innumerable benefits, first and foremost to the
charities it supports, by providing them with the resources and skills
they need to meet their own objectives in serving the needs of the
wider community. The work challenges and inspires Partners, giving
them the opportunity to learn new skills, practise old ones, build
personal confidence, and gain satisfaction and pride in actively
supporting the local community.

The Partnership also recognises the benefits it brings to the business
as it helps recruit potential Partners, motivates, develops and
retains existing Partners, and brings in new skills.

Recognition for the GJT

The Partnership was delighted that the GJT was a highly commended
finalist in the Effective Giving category of the 2005 Companies and
Communities Awards, hosted by the Charities Aid Foundation, and that
in 2006, 2007 and 2008, the GJT received a BITC Award for Excellence
'Big Tick', as well as a high commendation at the National BITC Awards
for Excellence 2006.

Participation :  Number of Partner hours seconded to charity via GJT
in the GJT    :  seconded to charity via GJT
    2003-04   :   15,020
    2004-05   :   19,412
    2005-06   :   22,466
    2006-07   :   19,580
    2007-08   :   22,500

Person hours invested in charities by GJT secondees 2007-08
Animals  7%
Arts  0%
Community  24%
Disability  15%
Elderly  1%
Environment  22%
Homeless  0%
Medical/care  10%
Youth  21%

Register a secondment opportunity with the Golden Jubilee Trust

If you are charity with a position you would like us to consider
please use our contact form.
http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/Display.aspx?MasterId=006aee95-b9ee-4245-be81-d1c7ef767935&NavigationId=1289

Source
http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/Display.aspx?&MasterId=302088b7-fc0b-4b0c-b0d3-fe2389abdbca&NavigationId=624