Local communities stories

Lynn named Employee Volunteer of the Year in Scotland
Lynn Abernethy, who works for Sodexo at the Scottish Parliament in in Edinburgh, was named Employee Volunteer of the Year at the Scottish Business in the Community (SBC) Awards for Excellence 2011.

Lynn was nominated by Sodexo for her outstanding contribution to volunteering, offering opportunities to young people and helping the long-term unemployed get back into work, in particular promoting the catering and hospitality industry as a career opportunity. In addition, Lynn is heavily involved in Sodexo Scotland's 'Healthy Living' programme which aims to educate young people about good nutrition and healthy lifestyles in partnership with the Outward Bound Trust.

Lynn said: “I didn't know I had been nominated so it was a complete surprise to win. I was delighted to accept the award on behalf of the whole Sodexo team in Scotland as it is very much a team effort.”  Thomas Jelley, Sodexo corporate citizenship manager, said: “Lynn shows tireless determination to support local community development through her own volunteering and her encouragement of other Sodexo employees. Lynn is efficient, modest, selfless and a true ambassador of Sodexo's mission and values.”

Ireland: Positive Skills for Living
The initiative aims to change local community attitudes towards health and nutrition in Tallaght, Dublin, in a collaborative and sustainable way. The programme is based around a course for local community workers, who are trained in stress management, self-esteem, nutrition and cooking healthily on a budget. They then pass their knowledge to others so the 'ripple effect' benefits the wider community.

“I truly believe that the project in Tallaght can provide a template for a transformational nationwide programme. The challenge is to reinvent societies in Ireland based on a social, economic and sustainable collaboration between corporate and community leaders... initiatives like this demonstrate real leadership and mean we can look to the future with confidence.”
Pauric O'Grady, Business in the Community Ireland

Young people are given a taste of work in the hospitality industry
Nine unemployed young people were given a helping hand, by taking part in a two-week hospitality learning programme, to give them knowledge and real work experience of the industry.

The Sodexo Foundation donated £17,000 to support the programme for under 25s that was delivered by Sodexo at Deeside College, Flintshire, North Wales, on behalf of The Prince's Trust. The courses concentrated on food hygiene, health and safety, and customer care, as well as the Spirit of Inclusion, a programme created by Sodexo, which looks at diversity and inclusion from an individual, team and business perspective. In the second week, participants were given the opportunity to gain real work experience through working in various catering service areas at the college, which are all provided by Sodexo.

Around one in five young people in the UK are not in work, education or training.

Simon Conway, Sodexo Education account director, said: “Feedback from the participants has been very good and they have expressed their enjoyment of the experience. There are many opportunities in the hospitality industry so we hope that their experience at Deeside College will help them secure work in this area.”

More information: read the Sodexo Foundation press release.

Coast to Coast Bike Challenge - 150 miles in one day for STOP Hunger 
Sean Fleming, account director, CSIFM took on the Coast to Coast Bike Ride from Whitehaven to Sunderland in aid of STOP Hunger, raising over £500. 
 
Sean covered 150 miles in one day, starting at 7:30am and completing the challenge in 9hours 35 minutes. The journey took Sean from Whitehaven in Cumbria through Keswick, Penrith, Consett and ending in Sunderland. Sean was supported by Andrew Deeble, account manager, CSIFM who provided his back up vehicle carrying a spare bike, tools and all refreshments for his food breaks and energy boosts.

During the ride Sean burnt over 8,000 calories. Sean said: "It was tough going, especially when cycling uphill, with over 10,000ft of climbing involved and I felt it in my legs. It's been a great experience and knowing I was raising funds for STOP Hunger made it all worthwhile."

Fairtrade fortnight 2010 - 'the big swap'
Sodexo supported the 2010 Fairtrade fortnight, the most ambitious two-week Fairtrade event ever organised. The aim was for one million and one people across the UK to swap their usual tea, sugar, oranges, bananas, chocolate or wine for a Fairtrade equivalent. Each swap demonstrated support for a better deal for developing world producers.

Sodexo sites contributed by swapping their usual sugar for Fairtrade sugar and many have kept this up since. They encouraged clients to make cakes and desserts to promote the swap and motivate our customers to join in and appreciate the change. We highlighted all the Fairtrade products available so our sites could offer their customers a variety of swap options, and used the 'swapometer' made available for companies and customers to pledge their swaps. We helped Fairtrade reach its goal and are busy planning the 2011 campaign, whose theme will be 'showing your label'.

More information: visit the Fairtrade Foundation Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 website.

Fairtrade fortnight 2011
Sodexo UK supported the 2011 Fairtrade fortnight by incorporating it into their bi monthly promotional packs that are sent to their sites. The theme this year was "Show off your label" which was a great opportunity for Sodexo to promote the use of the Fairtrade logo. Sodexo sites contributed by highlighting on their menus which products that they were buying were from certified sources. They encouraged clients to make cakes and desserts to promote the logo and motivate our customers to join in and appreciate the change. We are now working hard with Fairtrade to plan Fortnight 2012 which should prove to be bigger and better than ever before.

More information: visit the Fairtrade Fortnight website. 

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