The Gowling WLG Corporate Responsibility Team worked with Karen Williams (founder of the Buddy Bag Foundation) to organise the first of four in house volunteering Buddy Bags Brigade events, as part of the firm’s Charity of the Year partnership for 2019.
On Monday 8th April, during the 90 minute event which ran like clockwork, thanks to the experience and guidance provided by Karen and her colleague Pam, a team of 20 Gowling WLG volunteers packed a total of 180 Buddy Bags for children who will find themselves in emergency care in the near future. Items packed into the bags included a collection of adorable knitted bears that the Gowling WLG Knitting Club had lovingly made, bringing an additional special and personal layer to the event.
During the session Gowling WLG volunteers learned that The Buddy Bag Foundation donate around 720 bags a month to children in need, unfortunately with the need being much greater than this. Some 48,000 children find themselves in emergency care in the UK each year. The Gowling WLG and Buddy Bag Foundation Charity of the Year partnership is extremely important and events such as this are a great way for Gowling WLG employees to contribute their time using the volunteering allowance each person is awarded by the firm.
Feedback from the volunteers was fantastic, with comments such as ‘a thoroughly rewarding experience’ and ‘I hope the child receiving the bags we’ve put together feels the love and support, as well as the essential items that have been put inside of it’ echoing the feelings in the room on the day.
