Giving World

Giving World has been awarded £8,000 by the VINCI UK Foundation to design and develop a new website and purchase new equipment for its ‘GIFTED’ development programme.

 The Foundation is supported by Midlands-based AND Automation, part of the VINCI Energies group; the AND Automation Sponsor will volunteer his time to help coach volunteers and build the new website.

 Giving World requested support from the VINCI UK Foundation to build a new website to integrate its donations aggregation and skills development programmes. The charity collects surplus goods from businesses and distributes them to vulnerable people in Leicester; the GIFTED programme sees people coping with disabilities or illness offered work experience as part of a therapy process. Sharfuddin Farooqui, a Process Control Engineer at AND Automation, will act as the charity’s project Sponsor and support volunteers in confidence building, understanding employer expectations, and gaining interview skills.

The VINCI UK Foundation, funded by VINCI businesses across the UK, supports groups and charities which work to tackle exclusion, foster community integration and improve access to employment and housing. Launched in early 2016, the Foundation is unique in its support for good causes due to its specific focus and provision of skilled volunteers.

 Sujata Sabharwal, Resources Director, Giving World, said:

 “Our GIFTED volunteers work as a team with the help of their support worker to help process donations, giving them a vital opportunity to build confidence, gain skills, and integrate with like-minded people facing similar challenges.

 “Financial support from the VINCI UK Foundation, as well as the time volunteered by our AND Automation project Sponsor, will be invaluable in helping us continue with our work.”

Through the Foundation, all VINCI’s employees, from apprentices to senior management, can use their experience and skills to benefit their local communities.