FEATURE
Leadership – Etc . chief executive and group principal Grant Glendinning is aiming to create a ‘ movement ’ by encouraging employees to give time to local good causes .
‘ TIME FOR TEESSIDE ’
Etc . staff give 2,000 hours of their time to good causes
Charity work – construction and maintenance challenges were carried out at The Finlay Cooper Centre in North Ormesby .
Etc . chief executive and group principal Grant Glendinning is hoping to create a bit of a movement on Teesside .
The aim is to bring people together to roll up their sleeves , lend a hand for the good of the area , and make “ Time for Teesside ”.
To get the ball rolling , and show how it can be done , around 250 staff members from across the college group took time away from their day jobs to embark on 21 projects for local good causes .
With everything from litter picks to creating a sensory garden , Grant said : “ What better way to make a real impact than rolling up our sleeves and giving our time to help in whatever way we can ?”
Inspired by Carlisle ’ s Give a Day to the City campaign , which sees hundreds of people and dozens of businesses giving time to good causes each year , Etc . sourced similar potential projects right here in the Tees region .
Staff carried out litter picks at the Tees Barrage , Redcar beach , Ingleby Barwick and Billingham , while volunteer days were spent at Daisy Chain and Teesside Hospice charity shops , Thornaby Church Baby Bank , Norton Community Centre , Vision 25 , Low Grange Community Centre , Dogs Trust Darlington and Maxi ’ s Mates .
Linking in with the MFC Foundation , construction and maintenance challenges were carried out at the Finlay Cooper Centre in North Ormesby , North Ormesby Resource Centre , and the Herlingshaw Centre , Middlesbrough , with further projects at Billingham Environmental Link , St Benedict ’ s Primary School in Redcar , Friends of True Lovers Walk , Yarm , Piper Court Care Home , Stockton , and a fundraising dog walk .
“ The diversity of the voluntary activities taking place over just a few days was fantastic and a real reflection of the incredible work that goes on by amazing organisations right here on our doorstep ,” said Grant .
And not one to be afraid to get his hands dirty , he joined the action over at the Finlay Cooper Centre in North Ormesby , part of the autism charity MAIN ,
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