At SLS, we believe in the power of giving back. That’s why we are dedicated to supporting charities within our local community and actively encourage our employees to make a meaningful impact. To facilitate this, we offer a paid volunteering day each year, empowering our team to contribute their time and talents to causes they are passionate about.
Here are a few of the causes SLS supported this year!
As you're probably aware, SLS is a dedicated partner of Rainbows Hospice, but our support goes beyond donations. Every month, our staff contribute items to a collection box in the office, raising donations for those in Rainbows' care. The launch of our new distribution centre was made even more special by the presence of the Rainbows mascot, Bow Bear, a reminder of the incredible work they do. Furthermore, each year, as Christmas approaches, we come together as a company to make a donation in place of sending Christmas cards, knowing it will bring light to families in need.
This year, we’ve also begun supporting the Jaguars WBC, the wheelchair basketball team of Simon, our IT Infrastructure Engineer! We’re proud to champion their incredible spirit and teamwork alongside our other charitable efforts.
Our support doesn't stop there - Check out what what our colleagues have been up to this year!
Eleanor and Alex visited Nethergate Academy, a local school for students with complex needs in Nottingham, to take part in a Circus Skills Day. They helped the children enjoy an exciting experience where they learned a variety of skills like diablo, plate spinning, unicycling, and more.
"It was an amazing experience! The children were absolutely thrilled to take part in the different activities throughout the sessions. We met kids of all ages, from primary school to sixth form, and it was so rewarding to see the smiles we brought to their faces." - Alexandra Dita, Digital Marketing Executive.
Jennie recently volunteered to take part in the Coety Primary School Year 5 Health and Wellbeing Celebration Day. Volunteers were needed to attend and fully participate in a 2-hour event, promoting Health and Wellbeing in the community. These workshops were independently designed and led by the Year 5 children.
"The children enjoyed testing our knowledge [...] They especially enjoyed putting us all through the rigorous fitness workout routine they created, and there was a lot of laughing, as they watched us huff and puff through the jumping squats, burpees, and downward dogs! This was a such a positive and heart-warming experience for all involved.” - Jennie Edmunds, SLS Business Sector Manager, HE & Research Councils.
Over the August Bank Holiday, Simon volunteered to help with the Access Team at CarFest - the UKs largest family festival where the money raised goes to various children’s charities including BBC Children in Need, Teenage Cancer Trust and others. The Access team ensured that over 600 people with additional needs could enjoy and take part in the festival the same as anyone else.
"We help people with a wide range of disabilities – from a physical impairment like mine (one leg) - to people with a range of neuro diverse conditions, to people who are sadly under palliative care. My job was to greet people, be nice and helpful. And happy. And sometimes be security. Sometimes traffic control. Sometimes just a friendly face or a shoulder to cry on. And sometimes to be the idiot you all know and like 😉" - Simon West, SLS Infrastructure Engineer.