Between work, hobbies, social life and other personal commitments, it can sometimes be a challenge to find the time to help others.

Grasshopper offers its team two paid volunteering days per year so they can juggle their day job alongside helping causes they feel passionate about. We believe in the importance of work-life balance and the wellbeing of our team, so with this scheme they can help others without it affecting their pay or personal time.

Let’s take a look at how some of the Grasshopper team have used their paid voluntary leave to help others out.

To volunteer, or not to volunteer, that is the question.

Marcelle, our resident Dylan Thomas, used some of her voluntary leave to run a poetry workshop with Year 4 students in Rhiwbeina Primary School, Cardiff, where her children attend. They used the time to learn about Haibun form poems, and used the topic of ‘My Rhiwbina’ to write about their favourite places.

On your marks. Get set. VOLUNTEER.

Bethan volunteered as a Chair of Governors at her local primary school. Regional meetings would sometimes take place during working hours, with committee meetings at the end of the day. Being able to volunteer within Grasshopper hours meant that she didn’t feel guilty for taking time out or hard done by for losing out on pay.

She has recently started volunteering with Blaenau Gwent Athletics Club, teaching youngsters how to hurdle. While it’s very early days, if it continues long term, she plans to make use of the volunteering scheme.

Bethan said, “While I would volunteer regardless of the scheme, the money certainly takes the sting out of giving my time for free. I will use it to subsidise costs which will no doubt involve buying a pair of shiny new spikes (my first since I was a teenager), along with clothing which can cope with all weathers on the club’s exposed (but picturesque) track in Brynmawr.”

Volunteering time to pursue cultural passions

John is half Welsh and half Iranian and founded Cymranian (a marriage of the word Cymraeg and Iranian), which celebrates all things Wales and Iran.

When Wales played Iran during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, John used his volunteering leave to host an event in Cardiff Bay, inviting people from both cultures to come together to watch the game and listen to some live music, poetry, and speeches from keynote speakers (pictured above).

Da iawn John! Well done John! آفرین به تو جان

These examples are why we will continue to help our team help others, ensuring they have the flexibility and security to apply their skillsets in areas they hold dear.