Together, we make a difference - staff volunteers making a difference for veterans
Our people are central to the delivery of services to the community, and we empower staff to make a difference to local causes close to their hearts through the council’s Employee Volunteering Scheme. This allows them to use up to 2 days to support a charity of their choice.
Lolly Adams, Executive PA to Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s Chief Executive and seconded to support the Mayor of Epsom & Ewell for the last three years, volunteered to support veterans throughout their visit to the Poppy Factory, organised by the Royal British Legion and Epsom Rotary for their Veteran Hub in Ewell.
The visit included talks about Remembrance and activities that the 35 veterans could take part in, such as a poppy making workshop, seeing how wreaths are made, and exhibits showing Royal wreaths designed for His Royal Highness King Charles III, Her Royal Highness Queen Camilla and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council enjoys a close relationship with the armed forces, with veterans joining us to mark key occasions throughout the year. Councillor Graham Jones MBE also joined the tour and is the council’s Armed Forces Champion with over 40 years’ service in the military. He supports the Army Benevolent Fund, the Soldiers’ Charity, is on the London Committee and organises fundraising events for the Royal British Legion including the Poppy Dinner.
Lolly said:
“Supporting the armed forces means a great deal to me and the council’s Employee Volunteering Scheme gave me a real opportunity to help veterans at an especially poignant time, leading up to Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day. It was a truly rewarding experience, and a real privilege, to assist veterans throughout the day by serving teas & cakes and supporting them on and off the coach. And it was truly humbling to be someone they could share their memories with and hear their experiences first hand.
Touching even one person’s life makes volunteering worthwhile.”
