Volunteering
CCP volunteers continue to offer time and expertise across a range of services and localities as we commit to pioneering new ways for them to add essential value to our offer and the communities we serve. To this end, we invested in a Social Value Manager to oversee volunteering, student placements and other means through which we can have a positive impact on improving access to social, employability and wellbeing opportunities for the general public.
As in previous years, our Hamper Scamper Christmas Appeal was dependent on the efforts of volunteers drawn from all corners of the community. Employer supported volunteering plays a pivotal role in Hamper Scamper, and we welcomed volunteers from our key community business partners to aid in the production line of raising and coordinating the donation of 2,017food hampers and 1,970 gifts to be dispatched to individuals and families struggling to make ends meet over the festive period. Ultimately, 300 volunteers donated 1,050 hours of support to Hamper Scamper.
Student Placements
We continue to be leaders in the field of creating mutual benefit through the hosting of social work students on placement within CCP services. We expanded our university partners across our localities to nine, and continue to offer world-class placement opportunities to social work students of the future. We are keen to work with universities to expand this offer into other academic areas and have been working with a University to offer day release shadowing experience for paramedic students within a service. In return, we benefitted from the 23,100 hours of time, input, and impact of 28 students practicing within CCP, sharing their knowledge and learning with staff and clients alike.
One student commented: “I had never worked in any accommodation-based services before, but now I understand how, and even why they have to exist. I am able to write case notes more effectively and have acquired knowledge of the nature and application of trauma based and psychologically informed environmental theories and practice, respectively.”
Students were asked what skills and experiences had they gained from the experience so far, feedback includes:
“I had never worked in any accommodation-based services before, but now I understand how, and even why they have to exist. I am able to write case notes more effectively now and been able to acquire knowledge of the nature and application of trauma based and psychologically informed environmental theories and practice, respectively.”
“Early interventions with families, Communication and tools with children with special educational needs, Interface with other professionals.”
“My communication, analytic and organizational skills have received a boost since my placement. I can confidently take initiative in seeking for a referral or solution for the challenge of any resident with the permission of my supervisor and run with it. I have learnt that I need to be confident when relating with the residents as they can pick on my uncertainty and fears and this may have an impact on the outcome of the session.”
Living Wage Employer
CCP believes that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. That’s why we have been striving towards aligning our pay with the ‘Real Living Wage’ as set by the Living Wage Foundation. This rate is set independently from the Government’s ‘Living Wage’ and represents an independent evaluation of the salary required to be able to meet the financial needs of everyday life, as well as luxuries and emergencies.
We are delighted to now be an accredited Real Living Wage employer, with all of our salaries and pay set at the Real Living Wage as a minimum, joining the pledge made by only 7,000 other employers nationally.
Green Impact
Green Impact is a sustainability accreditation scheme with an awards element designed for participating organisations. Green Impact is a United Nations award-winning programme designed to support environmentally and socially sustainable practices within organisations. This can mean anything from communicating recycling systems to committing to go Fairtrade; from supporting team health and well-being campaigns to working towards carbon-neutrality.
Based on proven behaviour change models, its flexible approach means it can be tailored to meet each organisation’s unique needs. Green Impact has worked with over 450 organisations, from universities to hospitals, museums, and local councils. Green impact provides the toolkit and guidance to change our organisation for the better.
