Colleagues in the Community
Abbie Williams, Creative Lead at Monmouthshire Building Society, volunteers at Dogs Trust in Cardiff.
“I volunteer once a week at the Dogs Trust, supporting the staff at the centre to help them find forever homes for the dogs in their care.
“The volunteering role involves walking the dogs, spending time with them, cleaning kennels, washing laundry, sorting donations and supporting with events. I attend every weekend with my mum, as we share a passion for caring for dogs.
“I’ve always loved dogs, so volunteering at Dogs Trust felt like a natural fit. I like that it’s a chance to give something back and be part of a good cause. It’s something I genuinely enjoy, so it never feels like a chore.
“Seeing the dogs finding their forever homes is such a joy. It’s also given me a sense of purpose, knowing that I’m helping to make a difference to the animals. I’ve learnt a lot about dog behaviour and care, so it’s educational too!
“Having an employer that supports with volunteering means a lot. It shows they care about what matters to me outside of work and gives me the chance to contribute to a cause close to my heart.”
Ellie Neye-Williams, Customer Consultant, collects food for the local Community Fridge in her home town of Chepstow.
“I’ve always wanted to volunteer but could never find an opportunity that worked well with my work schedule.
“When the local Community Fridge applied for a donation through our branch sponsorship programme, I had an opportunity to visit with my manager. We took some of our budgeting buddies tools to chat to people about and while I was there I saw that they were looking for volunteer evening food collectors.
“The Community Fridge donates surplus food from supermarkets to the community. My volunteer role involves going to local supermarkets twice a week to pick up any surplus food they may have that would otherwise have gone to waste.
“The Community Fridge is open to anyone from the local community to come and get food when they need it. They are based in the old Rainbow Café near the bus station and are open to the public on Wednesdays and Fridays mornings and Monday afternoon/evening.
“Although all of the hours I spend volunteering are in the evening, and therefore my personal time, it is amazing to see the Society do so much for charity. Not only do we have the volunteering initiative but also offer donations to grassroots clubs through our branch sponsorship programme and we have a charitable foundation.
“I like that you get the chance here to physically help out yourself to an organisation that matters to you, it’s nice to get that opportunity.”
Martyn Jenkins, Head of Business Solutions, coaches children’s sports teams:
“I’ve coached my son’s football and rugby teams since they were playing in Under 6 leagues. They’re now part of the Under 14’s.
“The kids have been playing together for so many years now, it’s a great way for them to keep in touch, with many of them now attending different secondary schools.
“I spend about 7-8 hours a week coaching. It’s really rewarding to see how the boys have developed into confident young people. For me, it’s really important that the boys have an opportunity to play.
“The sporting side of things is really only one aspect of what I look to teach them. Just as important, is how to win well, lose graciously, deal with feedback, be a good teammate, talk to others constructively and be a leader.
“Volunteering is a really prominent thing here at the Society. It’s front and centre for everyone and we have freedom to donate hours to causes that matter to us.
“Last year, I was able to use my colleague volunteering hours to support taking a group of kids to London to play in the Rosslyn Park Sevens, a really high profile tournament. Without volunteers they wouldn’t have been able to take as many boys to give them that great experience, so it’s a good thing for both me and the community.
