A day of promoting volunteer and community organisations by Swindon 105.5

By Jamie Hill - 22 October 2016

CommunityBusinessSocial EnterpriseVolunteering

Seven hours of promoting volunteering and community organisations in Swindon is planned for Tuesday 25 October, when Swindon 105.5 will be broadcasting from 7am to 7pm in themed hours across the day.

The day is being planned and run in association with Zurich Community Trust as part of the broader Swindon 175 celebrations. Pam Webb, Head of the Zurich Community Trust says “It’s fantastic to see the many celebrations of Swindon’s 175 year history. We wanted to ensure that the vital and fantastic support provided to the people of Swindon through the charities and community groups that make up our vibrant local voluntary sector was profiled and celebrated and what better way than through our award winning community radio station.” The day will profile groups from sectors including disability, young people, carers, refugees, sport, environment, Queens Award for Voluntary Action, Pride of Swindon Awards and the important role local businesses play in supporting the community. It will link with Swindon 175 and conclude with a one-hour studio discussion which will include Station Patron Lord Joel Joffe. Shirley Ludford, Station Manager and broadcaster said: “This is a first such day locally and is an excellent representation of how we are at the heart of our community as an inclusive and accessible service, supporting and promoting groups and working with businesses, so I am delighted that the Zurich Community Trust is working alongside us in the planning and delivery of the day. “We are also launching a new weekly programme as part of the event, which will profile community organisations. It will be presented by Chris Ockwell, who came to us seeking volunteering and training in a brand new direction after taking retirement. Chris’s Community Show can be heard at 11am each Tuesday.” Volunteers will quickly be turning each programme into podcasts for the station website and elements of programmes will be streamed live as videos via the Station website during the day. SWINDON 105.5 is a non-commercial radio service in Swindon, by Swindon, for Swindon. Licensed by OFCOM as a Not For Profit community broadcasting organisation, with a specific brief and funded by grants, donations, corporate support, fund-raising events and support in-kind. Zurich Community Trust, is a UK registered charity funded by an annual donation from the Zurich UK businesses and by generous donations from Zurich’s employees. It provides an umbrella for all Zurich’s community involvement in the UK. Since its inception in 1973, Zurich Community Trust has donated over £65 million. Its grant programme addresses key social issues and works to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged people. Last year, the Trust supported over 800 charities across the UK and overseas, improving the quality of life of over 100,000 disadvantaged people. The Zurich Community Trust also brokers a wide range of volunteering opportunities for UK employees engaging c. 40% of the Zurich UK workforce in sharing their time and skills with the community each year. Last year the Trust brokered around 6,000 days of volunteering from Zurich UK employees. Visit Zurich Community Trust’s website on www.zct.org.uk for more details.

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