A VAST Volunteering Case Study
Axia Solutions Gives Back!
Our CSR brokerage serves up another successful community project volunteering day!
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is when private businesses ‘give something back’. It helps them to be socially accountable, and by practicing CSR, companies can be conscious of the kind of impact they’re having on all aspects of society.
This cross-sector working can also be the start of a beautiful friendship – and it’s great when that happens!
CSR often comes in the form of hands-on help with projects like redecorating a community venue or redeveloping a community garden.
Axia Solutions reached out to VAST Volunteering as part of their ‘be the change’ curriculum to deliver a session about volunteering to their apprentices. Sian (Senior Project Officer for Volunteering) delivered a short presentation discussing how volunteering can fit around work and other commitments for individuals as well as encouraging the apprentices to consider group volunteering under a CSR banner. The session was well-received, and it inspired Axia Solutions to want to volunteer as part of International Volunteers Day in December 2023.
Axia Solutions’ portfolio includes apprenticeship training, delivery of Maths and English in the workplace and a range of bespoke training packages. They want to ensure that they make a broader positive contribution to developing their learners. Making a positive contribution to the area in which they live and improving the opportunities for the next working generation. To support this vision, they have developed an additional enrichment curriculum ‘be the change’ which they run 3 times a year.
"A massive thank you to VAST for matching us with a great organisation”
With the volunteering scheduled for December, Sian reached out to a range of organisations to identify some festive volunteering opportunities to help spread some Christmas cheer locally. Sian and Axia Solutions settled on the West End Centre in Stoke. The West End Centre offers a warm, welcoming and safe place for individuals and groups. They love local residents of all ages dropping in, as they encourage them to learn new skills, obtain help and advice, but most importantly have fun and make new friends.
“Such a rewarding day learning about the amazing work the team do at the West End Centre to support our local community. It was a privilege to have been able to help sort and pack toys and food hampers for their families in need.”
“It was really good, quite heart-warming knowing that these children are now going to have lovely prezzies to open on Christmas Morning.”
The 5th December soon came around, and the Axia Team stepped away from their usual office and daily tasks to organise presents for families in need within the local community. The West End Centre made a thoughtful decision not to pre-wrap the presents, allowing parents to take part in the process. This small yet significant gesture helps families feel more connected and ensures parents have the joy and reassurance of knowing exactly what their children will unwrap on Christmas morning.
The Axia staff also created hampers filled with treats and essential items. Whilst organising gifts and creating hampers, the staff also had the chance to chat with some of the dedicated volunteers and hear about their journeys. Natalie, Support and Volunteering Projects Manager, was able to support Axia during the day. This was particularly special, as she is completing an apprenticeship through Axia, so she was able to share the role of VAST in supporting local organisations.
The team gained valuable insight into the challenges faced by local families and learned about the development of some of their projects like the food pantry. Deeply moved by what they learned, on top of the volunteering day the team decided to organise an office collection to help top up supplies in the pantry to support them through winter. The team were amazed there was so much going on so close to their workplace that they had previously been unaware of.
Quotes from Axia Staff included:
“I really enjoyed volunteering at the West End Centre. It was both sad and heart-warming and certainly grounding. An inspiration for retirement activities. Great teamwork all.”
“I had a lovely day and it was great to see how much had been donated for the families and children. I would definitely go back again and help them as it is an amazing place and they were so appreciative of all the help they had received, not just from us but from other businesses too.”
“It really made us appreciate how lucky our own families are and was absolutely an honour to be involved. I went from feeling very emotional at the beginning of the day to feeling happy that the children would all have several lovely gifts to open. I'm certainly going to be telling my kids about it and reinforcing how incredibly fortunate they are. The staff and volunteers there also do an incredible job and Sarah gave us a fabulous background of all the wonderful things that the centre do throughout the year, not just in the run up to the festive season.” Jo
“The day truly raised my awareness of the excellent work that takes place at the West End Centre. It was great to get involved and be a small part of the work to help others and make Christmas a special time for the families. The passion shown by Claire to help the local community is outstanding. Great to hear how their clients progress to volunteers and then often into employment.”
If you’re interested in sorting a CSR opportunity, whether you’re a community project or a private business, please get in touch. We’d love to help you!
