Grundon and its employees raised hundreds of pounds for charity after pledging their support for the Samaritans’ Brew Monday campaign.
Individuals from across the company were asked to take an online pledge, which encouraged them to take at least 20 minutes out of their day last month, to enjoy a cuppa and a chat with colleagues.
In return, for every employee who pledged to have a cup of positive-TEA, Grundon committed to give £2, leading to a final donation of £444 to the Samaritans.
The Brew Monday campaign is a play on Blue Monday (17 January), which is traditionally seen as the most difficult day of the year. The Samaritans say this is a ‘myth’ and that everyone can have good days and bad days at any time, hence encouraging people to stop and engage in a chat over a cuppa.
Toni Robinson, Grundon’s Head of Compliance, said: “We were really thrilled at the way our employees pledged their support for the Brew Monday campaign. After a challenging period, where many people have been working remotely, it was the perfect way to bring everyone together for a common cause.
“It is so important that we all take time to talk to each other – and to listen – so this was a very timely reminder and even better that we could all help raise money for the Samaritans at the same time.”
The campaign was promoted throughout the company and employees were encouraged to film themselves having a cuppa, with the video being shared on GrunHub, Grundon’s Internal Communications Platform and social media.
Thanking Grundon for its support and speaking on behalf of a local branch of the Samaritans, Dave said: “Samaritans work to make sure that there’s someone there for anyone who needs our support, giving them a safe space to talk about what worries them. Through providing volunteers, we provide emotional support to those who are struggling, including those who are thinking about ending their lives.
“The Brew Monday pledge that has been taken by those at Grundon has helped raise money to help us with this work. More importantly, it’s helped raise awareness of the work that Samaritans does, and this is greatly appreciated.”
According to the charity, it costs £200 to support training for a new Samaritans volunteer, meaning Grundon’s donation will help at least two new people to become a listening ear for someone who is going through a tough time.
The Samaritans provides support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For more information, visit www.samaritans.org