As part of Make It Matter Day (1st June), Marks & Spencer has committed to support M&S colleagues in delivering one million hours of community volunteering by 2025, to help make a difference to the projects and initiatives that really matter in the communities it serves.
M&S has kickstarted the volunteering in Douglas by helping Manx Cancer Help with renovation of their counselling rooms, redecorating and also establishing a therapy garden.
Nationwide, employees in every M&S store will join their colleagues in Douglas by helping to transform local projects that make a real difference. In total, over 50,000 colleagues will support more than 500 community projects across the breadth of the UK. Make it Matter is part of the recently launched M&S campaign ‘#SpenditWell’, which is about inspiring people to make every moment special by focusing on the experiences, people and things that really matter in life.
Julie Hodgen, Store Manager M&S Douglas, said: “We were really excited to come together to support these fantastic charities. Volunteering can make a profound difference to the communities in which we live, work and play – we believe that lots of the small actions from lots of people, can collectively have a huge impact. We had a great time helping where we could.”
Gareth Nicholson, Manx Cancer Help, said: “The ‘Making Every Moment Special in the Community’ project that M&S Douglas staff have very kindly put together for our charity will prove to be invaluable.
“We simply would not have the time or budget to be able to transform and rejuvenate our Therapy Suite and the community garden. The skills and vision that the M&S Staff have produced have stunned us and we are very excited to see the end results.
“It is very important for us here at Manx Cancer Help, to be able to welcome our clients that are affected by the anxiety and stresses that a diagnosis of cancer brings, to a warm and welcoming environment that makes them feel at ease from the moment they walk through the door. M&S Douglas staff have embraced this vision and are eagerly putting their ideas to fruition.”
To get involved in the online conversation, follow @MarksandSpencer and #SpendItWell.
Photo - Staff from the M&S Douglas help to establish a therapy garden for local charity, Manx Cancer Help.
