We are pleased to announce that from August 2020 the Marble Arch Business Improvement District will be running a hybrid Community Programme, offering our members a mixture of both virtual and practical volunteering opportunities.
Our virtual volunteering programme has seen great success over the last four months, piloting new initiatives that have kept our businesses at the forefront of the community. During the peak of COVID-19, Marble Arch colleagues donated many hours of virtual volunteering, supporting both local students and elderly Westminster residents. Volunteering activities included hosting regular telephone discussion groups and reviewing CVs for local students who missed out on their summer work experience placements.
During this time Marble Arch businesses also donated a substantial amount of food and essential toiletries to key workers and some of the area’s most vulnerable residents. A huge thank you to the Grosvenor Victoria Casino, The Hilton London Metropole, Stylus Media, Green Valley, Waitrose, and Tesco for all their efforts.
The Grosvenor Victoria Casino donated £3500 worth of frozen food to the Westminster Society.
Volunteering moving forward
We understand that moving forward an increasing number of colleagues will be splitting their time between home and the office. Our new community programme will provide exciting virtual volunteering opportunities which will ensure our members working remotely can continue to engage in meaningful local projects and stay connected with the area.
For those that are ready to come back to Marble Arch we will continue to offer our popular practical community days. We have been working hard over lockdown to review our risk assessments and volunteering practices ensuring they are up to date with current government guidelines. We will also be working closely with our community partners on every project to ensure the necessary steps, equipment and protocols are put in place to keep everyone safe.
Church Commissioner colleagues hard at work adding a fresh coat of paint to the halls at the Marylebone Project back in 2019.
Great British Spring Clean 2020 update
The Great British Spring Clean is the UK’s largest environmental campaign and is designed to encourage people to tidy up their local parks, streets, and waterways.
We are pleased to announce that our rescheduled date for the postponed Great British Spring Clean has been confirmed and will now be held on Thursday 24 September. Marble Arch volunteers will be working in small teams of five at separate locations to ensure social distancing is maintained. Colleagues will be assisting the Royal Parks by clearing turf to make a base for a new wildlife-friendly hedge. Please see our Great British Spring Clean update for more information.
Due to COVID guidance we have had to restrict places to this year’s event and will be prioritising places to those who signed up earlier this year. We do apologise in advance for any disappointment and look forward to welcoming back larger groups in the future.
To find out more information about our community programme or up and coming volunteering opportunities please get in touch with our Community Team.
