After putting out a call across the organisation, bosses were thrilled to discover that many Swanton team members spend their free time doing good. Support Workers Malgorzata Kujawa and Agnes Rejniak from GRS Community Team in Wales have thrown their support into a charity drive for Ukraine. The duo spent nearly a month of evenings and weekends collecting and packing clothes, food, sanitary products and medical supplies.
Swanton CEO Andrew Dalton said he was deeply impressed by their efforts. He said:
“Malgorzata and Agnes have worked tirelessly at their local Catholic church to help the people of Ukraine, and we’re very proud of them. We’ve all seen the power of volunteering in the terrible months since the war began. It’s making a real difference to the lives of Ukrainian people.”
In Swanton’s Care & Community services in Kettering, volunteers are putting their efforts into helping animals. Lataya House’s Registered Manager Zoe Whitbread fosters animals from Redhead Rescue Animal Sanctuary. She is currently going through the adoption process to rehome a dog she took in to foster.Meanwhile, Support Worker Lisa Brett volunteers as a dog-walker for Irchester’s Animals In Need charity.
“It’s wonderful to think of the love and care these vulnerable animals are getting thanks to Zoe and Lisa. They are doing great work.”
Elsewhere, Lauren Frayne has been volunteering for two years with Homestart as a home visitor. Lauren supports families within their own homes to navigate different situations. Her work is varied and can involve doing practical tasks, offering advice or giving emotional support. Lauren said:
“I love my time volunteering as it’s so varied and fun. I like meeting new people and watching them grow.”
Meanwhile, Swanton’s Central & Yorkshire Regional Director Tom Pick has been volunteering on club nights. Tom said:
“I volunteer at ‘Under The Stars’, a Sheffield-based charity that runs regular club nights at Lead Mill. The nights are for adults with learning disabilities, and I usually work in the cloakroom at the start of the evening and then put people in taxis at the end. It’s a fantastic charity, and it means a lot to me to be able to give our patrons a great night out.”
Over at Baylis Place in Humberside, Deputy Manager Jenny Nicholas voluntarily donated to charity since she was 18. Tom added:
“Jenny told me that she’s been donating 10% of her salary to charity for the past 17 years since she turned 18. Currently, she is sponsoring widows and children in India who need help. It’s a wonderful act of charity that has deeply impressed me.”
After hearing their stories, Andrew said that all the Swanton volunteers deserved a pat on the back:
“I’d like to congratulate Lauren, Tom and Jenny on their efforts. We are living through challenging times, so the dedication of all these volunteers is so heart-warming. I’m proud to have so many people working for Swanton who are willing to go above and beyond for others.”
“I hope they continue to do this vital work and make a difference in the lives of others.”
