AN award-winning Derbyshire company is leading the way as a UK-wide volunteering initiative is launched to mark the coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort.
The Coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, May 6 with events planned across the whole of the weekend. They include a Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle and The Coronation Big Lunch, at which neighbours and communities are invited to share food and fun together. Both of those events will take place on Sunday, May 7.
On Monday, May 8 members of the public will be invited to take part in The Big Help Out, which will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves and join the work being undertaken to support their local areas.
Queen’s Award-winning Cosy, which has its headquarters in Tutbury, on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border, will be closing during the week commencing May 8th with its staff volunteering their services to help local schools.
Cosy managing director Nick Walker said: “Volunteering is important to us here at Cosy and we give our staff two paid days off every year, to volunteer. This generates more than 2,000 hours in helping our communities.
“We’re suppliers of Early Years and Nursery school products, so it felt right to give back to schools in the area. We have 100 members of staff who will be taking part in The Big Help Out which we will split into groups of between six and eight.
“They will then go into schools in Derbyshire and Staffordshire to paint walls, dig gardens and to generally improve the school environment in any way that they can.”
Cosy currently gives more than 10% of its profits to support grassroots projects both at home and abroad.
Founder of Cosy, Peter Ellse, said: “Volunteering not only makes a positive impact on the community, but it is also good for mental wellbeing and creating those ‘softer skills’ sought by employers.
“Derby and Derbyshire is full of strong, civic businesses and real go-getters such so I’m sure that many will be taking this opportunity up.
“It will be a chance for us at Cosy, to bring various departments, of varying ages, together for a good cause.
“King Charles is a fantastic advocate for volunteering and giving back and has, over the years, been to Derbyshire several times to show his support for some of the incredible charities that are doing invaluable work here. When I met him last year, as I collected Cosy’s Queen’s Award for Enterprise, he listened with interest as I spoke about the charities that we’re involved with, the likes of Derby Kids Camp and the YMCA.
“We’re looking forward to bringing our staff together to celebrate The Big Help Out and the King and Queen Consort’s Coronation.”
Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, said: “I am so pleased to hear of Cosy’s plans to support the Big Help Out day. Volunteers are key to our society, the glue that binds us together and this special day provides a marvellous opportunity to showcase organisations needing volunteers and encourages more of is to get involved.
“In my experience, you always get more out than you put in.”
Organisations who will be doing their part for The Big Help Out include the National Trust, NSPCC, Scouts, ageUK and Guide Dogs. You can find out about volunteering opportunities and register your interest by visiting thebighelpout.org.uk
