Monahans’ evolving role in the local community

As a firm that works directly with local businesses across the south-west, it’s important for us to do our bit and give back to the community.

For a number of years, our teams across Monahans’ seven offices have invested their time and energy by volunteering for causes that are close to their hearts. From mental health and animal welfare, to beach cleans and food banks, there are a number of pressing challenges facing society and the local environment. While they cannot be solved by any one company, we can help make a difference even at a micro level.

Every employee has the opportunity to have paid time off to volunteer with their chosen charity. Our volunteering policy is complemented by our Charity Donations Matching policy. Monahans has increased its commitment to a wide range of local charities by matching any donations raised at our various and numerous events across the offices.

In addition to this, a number of individuals across the firm hold trustee and governor roles in a number of organisations including schools, not for profit and local sports clubs, to share their professional expertise.

So which charities have the team been working with?

The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is a long-standing local charity that members of the Monahans team worked with regularly. The Chippenham team in particular have developed a great relationship with them over the years and spends numerous days each year volunteering and helping to cut down and clear woodland to provide new habitats for local wildlife. A few of the recent tasks carried out by the team include building deer fencing and securing dormice boxes.

Teckels
Karen Oldridge, a longstanding member of our Finance team is a keen supporter of animal welfare and regularly arranges food collections and drops for Teckels Animal Sanctuary. A group volunteered at Teckels at the end of June and made sure they were armed with food supplies for the dogs and cats.

Bold and Brave
Several members of the healthcare team volunteered with Bold and Brave. The Taunton-based social enterprise works to support young people with their mental health – specifically those who need a nurturing environment to build confidence and prepare for the world of work.

It works to support the staggering 70,000 people which it estimates will suffer from a mental health condition in Somerset alone, with around 1 in 5 young people affected. Monahans worked with the team at Bold and Brave to help identify new revenue generating opportunities through sponsorship, building partnerships and networks with local businesses, organising fundraising events, and providing resources to the enterprise’s budding artists.

Alternative Angels
Our annual Charity Quiz in Swindon selected Alternative Angels as their chosen charity this year, raising over £500. The charity works to feed and support the homeless by providing home-cooked meals, snacks, and sandwiches, fostering a sense of belonging and offering a compassionate ear for those in need. In June, the team organised a snack packing assembly in the Swindon office and donated a total of 100 bags of food. Similarly, the Trowbridge team regularly helps at a local food bank by providing resources and supports where they can.

Alzheimers Support
In June, members of the Monahans team took part in ‘A Walk to Remember’ in Bowood to raise money for local charity, Alzheimers Support. The team raised an impressive £1700 which will go towards improving the quality of life for families affected by dementia in Wiltshire. The team from Alzheimers Support were delighted with the donation and explained support from local businesses helps them keep their award-winning services running.

Beach Clean
Also in June, the Bath office headed to Sand Bay at Weston-super-Mare to take part in a beach clean. The team were lucky with the weather and were able to fill up a significant number of bags, collecting an array of items such as a shot gun cartridge, a toy soldier and a parcel shelf from a car amongst every other sort of plastic bottle, bag, building materials and general litter. This was followed by a delicious team lunch! A great way to spend the day – and giving something back to the local community and ensuring a clean beach for visitors.

Local retail
There are an estimated 11,200 charity shops in the UK and one of the biggest challenges they face is not a lack of donations, but also a shortage of people to process the donation they do receive.

The Monahans HR and Tax teams were only too pleased to help out when they volunteered with RSPCA Oak and Furrows. The HR team spent a happy morning sorting through donations at the RSPCA store in Swindon, before feeding the hedgehogs at the Animal Shelter. Their colleagues from the Tax department followed suit a few months later and added an afternoon at the nature reserve to help feed the animals there.

We’re passionate about supporting our local communities and our teams enjoy having the opportunity to give back to businesses. Keep an eye on our social media channels to see which charity the team chooses to support next.

Sophie Austin