Employees from Socitm, the body representing IT and digital professionals across the public and third sectors, have swapped office life for a day of volunteering to support one of its members.

A 10-strong team, from the organisation’s Northampton head office, spent a day helping out at the Acorns Children’s Hospice donation centre in Halesowen.

The group were given the task of sorting through dozens of bags of unwanted clothing, shoes, toys and other household items and identifying goods suitable for re-sale or recycling within Acorns’ network of charity shops. » Continue reading news item ... “Socitm staff swap a day at the office to volunteer at donation centre”

A groundbreaking walking audio book project that brings to life the Earth’s 4.6 billion year story has launched a Heritage Lottery Fund-backed £20,000 crowdfunding appeal – to increase its impact in raising environmental awareness, help train future ecologists and encourage people to look after the planet.

Deep Time Walk is the world’s first interactive mobile app of its kind. It allows people to take a 4.6 kilometre walk ­– anywhere in the world – to learn and experience a detailed, dramatized journey of Earth’s Big History, from the planet’s formation to the present day. » Continue reading news item ... “Cutting edge deep time audio book launches crowdfunding appeal”

Clore Social Leadership has been awarded £498,744 of National Lottery funding through the Big Lottery Fund to be a facilitator for leadership in the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in England. Engagement is at the core of this initiative where the benefits of leadership development will be highlighted to address the sector’s leadership needs.

The funding will be distributed over three years with a focus on four key work streams: engagement, insight, guidance and innovation. » Continue reading news item ... “Lottery grant for Clore Social Leadership to be a sector leadership facilitator”

Hundreds of Lloyds Banking Group colleagues are volunteering at Mental Health UK Service Centres across the UK to raise awareness and spark conversations during Mental Health Awareness Week (8-14 May).

Lloyds Banking Group colleagues are taking part in practical activities to improve Service Centre facilities for people who rely on them and leading conversations with workers at the centres to discuss the importance of mental health and wellbeing. » Continue reading news item ... “Lloyds Banking Group colleagues volunteer to make a difference during Mental Health Awareness Week”

In an exciting step forward for the biodiversity of Scotland’s forests, Trees for Life has successfully encouraged the rare but ecologically important aspen tree to flower under controlled conditions – enabling it to produce much-needed seeds that can be used for propagation.

Trials to stimulate aspen branches to flower at the charity’s Dundreggan Conservation Estate in Glenmoriston, near Loch Ness, have progressed significantly this spring, following some initial success and experimentation over the past two years. » Continue reading news item ... “Conservation breakthrough for Scotland’s rare aspen tree”

A man who was told he would never walk again following a violent burglary at his property is taking on the London Marathon on 23rd April in aid of the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation (nsif) – a charity devoted to finding a cure for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury.

Steven Smith was attacked at his holiday home in the south of France in 2011 when armed men broke into his property. » Continue reading news item ... “Man told he would Never Walk Again takes on London Marathon to fund a cure for Spinal Injury”