Warblings - Charity of the Year Edition

charity year of the

2013 RBLI NEWSLETTER

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elcome to this special ‘Charity of the Year’ edition of Warblings.

With contributions from almost every area of RBLI, this newsletter offers a comprehensive look at the great achievements of individuals and teams within the company.

We hope that you find this as informative and enjoyable to read as we did to produce. We have compiled some of the great stories, events and achievements that have taken place over the past year. Enjoy!

James Sancto & Amy Carr, Editors

what’s in

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4-5 PHOTO COMPETITION WIN 6 SORTED! HISTORIC FOOTBALL MATCH 7 david’s day golf 8 armed forces covenant signing mod vocational assessment 9 memorial garden restoration lifeworks 10-11 lifeworks families FULFILMENT 12 fruit bin record sales 13 signs print & mail care & welfare 14 health & wellbeing 15 assessment delivery employment solutions human resources 17 16 london marathon business support 18 charity of the year

If you have any stories or people that you think should be featured in the next edition of Warblings, or any feedback, please email: james.sancto@rbli.co.uk

2 contents

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S MESSAGE TO ALL STAFF 2

013 has been quite an exceptional year for RBLI, and I congratulate you all on the excellent individual and team contributions to our success.

Winning the Charity Times ‘Charity of the Year Award’ in November was external recognition of your passion and commitment to providing quality services and enabling individuals to gain independence. I see, as I travel around the organisation, that beneficiaries are at the heart of everything you do.

disability, health condition or social welfare need. Our roots are with the Armed Forces, and yet we are also proud to deliver our proven core capabilities to a much wider beneficiary base outside of the Armed Forces Community.

something right!

So what does 2014 hold in store for RBLI? We must continue modernising, be resolute about maintaining a strong growth profile and all of us should seek to further improve our own personal You may not be aware that performance through learning RBLI has been selected, above and development. If you have others, to be a prime contractor suggestions for how best we to the MoD providing can improve do please speak vocational assessment to with me, my door is always wounded, injured and sick open. Or, if you prefer, send an service personnel and also to e-mail or pick up the phone.

DWP, delivering ergonomic and technical workplace This ‘Special Edition’ of assessments for people Warblings will, I hope, further with disabilities or health demonstrate the huge amount conditions. Our teams work accomplished across all right across the UK and also areas of RBLI. I wish you all reach into Germany. a successful and prosperous 2014. Let’s keep RBLI winning!

The year has also seen RBLI gain Further recognition of your wider recognition of its status success is our revenue growth Steve Sherry as a national charity providing of over 20% in the last 12 care, support and employment months. This is clear evidence to those disadvantaged by that we must be doing

i congratulate you all on the excellent individual & team contributions to our success” chief executive’s message 3

2013 CHARITY OF THE year

RBLI Stood out with its outstanding focus, passion, impact & determination�

4 charity of the year

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e are extremely pleased to report that RBLI has been awarded Charity of the Year 2013 at the Charity Times Awards. In a field of strong competitors, RBLI received first place in the over £10 million income category, an achievement we should be extremely proud of, having also been a finalist in 2012. The Awards recognise and celebrate best practice in the UK charity and not-

excellence all round. Andrew Holt, Editor for Charity Times Magazine, who organises the Awards, had high praise for RBLI, “In a category that was immensely strong, RBLI stood out with its outstanding focus, passion, impact and determination in helping its beneficiaries. RBLI really showed they are an excellent example of the sector at its very best.”

“a fantastic example of quality, excellence, passion, commitment & dedication” for-profit sector, and bestows its top accolades on charities who have consistently delivered outstanding service to their beneficiaries, promoted and raised their cause, been clear in their goals and strategy, and demonstrated

“For RBLI to win such a coveted award as the Charity Times Charity of the Year Award with an income of more than £10 million highlights the fantastic work the charity has undertaken in the last twelve months.”

raising awarness and expanding the number of beneficiaries reached Winning this award means more public awareness of RBLI’s contribution to the lives of ex- servicemen and women, and people disadvantaged by a disability, health condition ot social welfare need. The judges, from Deloitte, remarked that RBLI is “A fantastic example of quality, excellence, passion, commitment and dedication”, and it is this ethos that we should

continue to project to the world.

This will also give us the opportunity to expand the number of beneficiaries that RBLI can reach by raising awareness of our services to a much wider audience. We would like to thank Charity Times for this prestigious honour and extend our thanks to everyone involved with our work for helping us to achieve this new status.

charity of the year 5

rbli WINS SOCIAL FIRMS UK PHOTO COMPETITION rbli awarded 1st & 2nd place in photo competition for social enterprises

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recent competition run by Social Firms UK invited Social Enterprises from across the UK to submit photographs related to their business activities. The photographs had to encapsulate the values and ethos of Social Enterprise: enterprise, employment and empowerment. A judging panel created a shortlist of the photos that most reflected this criteria and a public vote was held to decide the winning photograph.

1st place

2nd place

RBLI’s Fulfilment Team took 1st place with a photo of themselves with the Managing Director and Marketing Director from one of our customers, Dart Valley Foods:

It was the Wood Products Team that earned 2nd place, with a photo of some of those individuals that work in the Sawmill:

Comments received from voters included: “Good to see a smiling workforce” “Clearly a happy workforce - fantastic!!”

Comments received from voters included: “Great team work & spirit” “Symbolise team, happiness, achievement and diversity”

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rbli founding member of sorted! consortium

BLI became a founding member of SORTED!, a consortium of seven well-established Service charities supported by a new website and help line which will provide easy access to employment support for the benefit of the Armed Forces community, past and present.

It has been jointly developed by seven charities, all of whom currently provide different tailored services within the employment support arena.

The charities involved are RFEA – The Regular

6 photo competition win

Forces Employment Association, Officers’ Association, The Royal British Legion, Royal British Legion Industries, The Poppy Factory, Officers Association Scotland and Poppyscotland.

This is the first time Service charities have collaborated on this scale to provide employment support.

HISTORIC FOOTBALL MATCH RAISES MONEY match celebrating150 years of the FA & Royal Engineers AFC raises £1,500 for rbli

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n Monday 25th November at The Gallagher Stadium, Maidstone, over 400 people gathered to watch RE AFC take on an FA Representative XI team in a good-natured game.

The Royal Engineers team was made up of serving personnel, whilst the FA team had players from a selection of English teams, including Alex Brown and Tom Mills from Maidstone United. The match raised money for RBLI in order to help us support Former Armed Forces Personnel and their families.

Prior to kick-off, the crowd was entertained by the Band of the

Corps of Royal Engineers, who created a patriotic atmosphere with a selection of songs including with the National Anthem.

first half The first half saw both teams playing well, but with FA XI keeping possession for the majority of the time. Their continued offensive pressure was met well by RE AFC however, and at half time the score stood at 0-0.

second half The second half commenced after another performance by the band, and the unrelenting

FA XI team continued their assault. However, RE AFC’s John Mathis nearly brought a breakthrough for the Engineers, when his long range effort caught the FA’s goalkeeper off guard and struck the cross bar. Unfortunately for the RE AFC, the FA’s efforts finally showed when AFC Hornchurch’s Stefan Payne scored the opener with only 20 minutes remaining!

RE AFC now had their work cut out to equalise, but despite a spectacular effort and an array of fantastic saves by their goalkeeper, Luke Cairney, it was not meant to be. Woking’s Niall Wright and Dulwich Hamlet’s Xavier Vidal turned the lead to 3-0 in the following minutes, and this remained the score at the final whistle.

final score

royal engineers AFC 0 - 3 fa representative xI We would like to thank both teams for taking part, as well as congratulate them on their 150th anniversaries. Their superb entertainment spurred the crowd on to donate £1500 to RBLI. A pat on the back for all those generous enough to attend and donate, and good luck to the RE AFC and the FA on the next 150 years of their journeys.

royal engineers football 7

DAVID’S DAY

CHARITY GOLF DAY A GREAT SUCCESS

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BLI’s Charity Golf Day raised over £6400 for this year’s David’s Day. The money raised will help allow children with disabilities and their carers to have a great outing later in 2014.

Every year, RBLI staff, customers and associates get together to raise money for David’s Day, a day out for children with disabilities and their carers, held in the memory of former Director of RBLI, David Rowlands MBE. The charity golf day held in October, at Tudor Park, Maidstone, sought to raise money for the 2014 David’s Day event, and was well attended, with 13 teams of aspiring golfers playing in the tournament. True to tradition the rain poured down, but

good spirits reigned and a fun afternoon was had by all.

The day concluded with a charity auction, with all proceeds going towards David’s Day 2014. Items to win included: a signed Frank Lampard poster, a signed Ray Parlour sign (pictured left) produced by RBLI’s Signs department and even tickets to see England vs Australia at Twickenham!

We would like to thank all those that donated to the fantastic variety of auction items, as well as Tudor Park for hosting the event, and of course, all the attending guests. The total amount of money raised for David’s Day from the event was a record breaking £6400.

Record £6,400 RAISED

save the date, david’s day golf 2014:

friday 19th september

rbli signs armed forces community covenant in bridgend

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epresentatives of organisations from a range of sectors, including RBLI, signed an Armed Forces Community Covenant with Bridgend County Borough Council. The Community Covenant aims to encourage all parties in the local area to offer support to the local Armed Forces Community, making it easier for service personnel, families and veterans to access the help and support available from the MOD, statutory providers and the charitable and voluntary sector.

8 david’s day golf

rbli win mod contract to support wounded, injured & sick service personnel R

BLI wins MOD contract to deliver vocational assessment support to wounded, injured and sick Forces personnel.

RBLI has successfully secured a contract with the MOD to provide vocational assessment services to all wounded, injured and sick Military personnel.

RBLI will be working as part of the MOD’s Defence Recovery Capability, an initiative enabling the swiftest return to

duty or smoothest transition to an appropriately skilled and supported civilian life for all seriously wounded, injured or long term sick Service Personnel, irrespective of the cause.

The contract was awarded following a competitive tendering process. It will deliver the contract in partnership with Right Management, who currently provides all resettlement services for the

MOD through the Careers Transition Partnership.

The delivery of the vocational assessment services has already begun, and will continue to be delivered from the four Personnel Recovery Centres established in UK locations, namely Tidworth, Catterick, Colchester and Edinburgh, as well as a centre in Sennelager for those stationed in Germany.

memorial garden to be restored for wwi centenary A

n exciting restoration of the Memorial Garden in the heart of The Royal British Legion Village in Aylesford is due to start in 2014 to coincide with the centenary of the beginning of the First World War. The new Memorial Garden will include a bandstand, a small parade ground and amphitheatre seating for events. The existing Memorial will remain as the focal point, especially around Remembrance Day, but the new garden will be an amenity to be enjoyed all year round by those who live, work and visit the Village.

Giving the garden a new lease of life is particularly poignant

and relevant in this centenary year, as RBLI was established in 1919 to provide treatment, training and support to service

personnel returning from the Great War. A fundraising initiative will be launched this year with opportunities for both businesses and individuals to sponsor different elements of the Garden.

There will also be the chance for groups and individuals to be involved in practical work on the garden.

Neil Walton of Centor Insurance has kick started the fundraising appeal with a generous donation of ÂŁ25,000. He presented the cheque to Stephen Kingsman, Vice Chairman of RBLI and Chairman of the Project Committee for the Memorial Garden, on Tuesday 17th December 2014.

If you would like to be involved with the Memorial Garden Restoration in any way, contact Penny Dyson on: penny.dyson@rbli.co.uk

mod vocational assessment 9

LIFEWORKS

The growth of LifeWorks could not be achieved without the continuing support of:

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he delivery of RBLI’s core LifeWorks course continued to expand in 2013. We reached more people than ever before, and delivered courses outside of Kent, in Preston, Edinburgh and Catterick. The course held at Phoenix House in Catterick was particularly successful, with delegates coming from the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“

Here a just a few quotes from LifeWorks delegates in 2013:

“As far as I’m concerned, this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“I’ll never forget this course; it’s been inspiring for me.”

”

“The course isn’t just CV building, it’s character building”.

The success and demand for LifeWorks courses means that delivery will extend to an even greater degree, with courses in Scotland and Catterick already scheduled for 2014.

The LifeWorks team were also nominated for a High Sheriff of Kent Award 2013 due to their work making a real difference to communities in Kent.

#Lifeworks - new social media pages

RBLI have branched out further into the world of social media with Twitter and Facebook pages providing information to serving and ex-Armed Forces personnel and their families. The LifeWorks Families pages will be offering informa-

@RBLI_LW, @RBLI_LWF 10 lifeworks

tion relevant to partners of serving personnel, while the LifeWorks feeds will focus on serving members and veterans of the Armed Forces.

Please give them a follow, like or share:

RBLI LifeWorks, RBLI LifeWorks Families

LIFEWORKS FAMILIES

for partners of serving armed forces personnel

AWARDED ÂŁ250,000 from libor fund RBLI was awarded ÂŁ250,000 from the Armed Forces Covenant LIBOR Fund to extend the provision of our LifeWorks course to military spouses and partners. RBLI received the grant following two pilot training courses for military families in Kent.

lifeworks families course DELIVERED In October, RBLI delivered a LifeWorks Families course in Tidworth, Wiltshire; it was well received by delegates, who came from as far afield as Bristol and Malvern to have an opportunity to enhance their career prospects. Delivery is now being extended across the UK, with courses for 2014 planned for a range of locations across the UK including NI and as far away as Cyprus and Germany.

course dates, january - march 2014 21-22 January Catterick 17-18 February Maidstone 25-26 February Plymouth

12-13 March Chatham 25-27 March RAF Marham

LOOKING AHEAD...

With the expansion in the delivery of LifeWorks to the partners of serving military personnel, and the MOD vocational assessments all taking place in 2014, RBLI will extend its people support services to an even wider contingent of the Armed Forces community than ever before.

Sharon Patmore

mod vocational assessment The LifeWorks Team has also begun the delivery of the MOD vocational assessment contract (see page 9) providing vocational assessment services to all wounded, injured and sick military personnel. These assessments will be taking place in four Personnel Recovery Centres across the UK, and one in Germany.

sharon patmore, who manages lifeworks delivery, to take on london marathon, page 18 lifeworks families 11

fulfilment

half million jars processed T he Dart Valley Foods (DVF) contract got into full swing, with our Fulfilment team in Aylesford labelling and bonneting jars of preserves and assembling a variety of gift packs. The team stepped up to the challenge, with almost half a million jars processed between the months of July and December.

At its peak, we had 24 people working to fulfil the DVF orders. Although it was not always plain sailing, all of the deliveries left on schedule. Having only taken the contract on in July of 2013, it was a great testament to the effort and adaptability of the Fulfilment team to have such a great result.

mayor of tonbridge & malling borough council visits

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ouncillor Howard Rogers, Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, visited RBLI on 3rd December, touring the range of operations that take place on the Aylesford site.

12 fulfilment

wood products national fruit show record £150,000 of fruit bins sold

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artin Easterby, RBLI’s Wood Products Specialist, sold almost £150,000 worth of fruit bins at this year’s National Fruit Show. A great achievement! This can be attributed to Martin’s rapport with his customers, as well as the introduction of the timber-slatted fruit bin, which has been received extremely well in the local fruit growing community.

signs A

By producing the timber-slatted fruit bin, RBLI have become the only British supplier of such a product. Farmers now have the choice to purchase a locally and ethically-sourced durable product.

The Wood products team continue to work extremely hard to fulfil this inflow of orders.

amey ceo & cpo visit rbli

mey Chief Executive, Mel Ewell, and Chief Procurement Officer, Gerry Walsh, visited RBLI’s Aylesford site on Thursday 14th November. They were given a tour of the various operations that take place on RBLI’s Aylesford location.

RBLI announced in October 2013 that they had been appointed as a supplier of permanent road signs for Amey, one of the UKs largest

public and regulated service providers.

Amey employs over 21,000 people and achieves a turnover in excess of £2.3 billion per annum from their contracts with water and power utilities, The Highways Agency, waste management companies, Network Rail, the justice services, social housing and over 50 contracts with County Councils and Local Authorities spread right across the UK.

record year

In 2014, the Signs department will be seeking to achieve even greater heights, including extending the portfolio of signs that the company can produce in Health and Safety Signs, general signage and bespoke signs. Only recently the sign team won the rights to supply the new London Gateway Port with bespoke racking signs and printed metal plates for the warehouse racking.

Any job considered by our Team!!

Andrew Slater

£250,000 investment RBLI’s Signs department have received a record number of orders in 2013, with the expansion of the company’s road sign manufacturing capability resulting from the £250,000 investment in the new MUTOH Zephyr Digital Printer that was made in 2013.

in the next warblings, we look at how signs are improving performance through baseline wood products, signs 13

PRINT & MAIL O

ur Print, Mail and Fulfilment service in Leatherhead has continued to grow this year, with 40 employees now on site.

As the main print machines had been in use for several years and technology has moved on, we have embarked on an investment in new machinery that has increased both our capacity and our capability, enabling us to compete with some of the best!

40 employees on site new customers new equipment

We’ve also invested in some very smart and flexible colour envelope printing technology, so our sphere of personalised print & mail is still expanding and encouraging new customers.

In addition to this, we’ve taken on a range of new customers during the year including Denbies Vineyards & The London Clinic and have seen a good mix of print, mailing and handwork coming through.

In the lead up to the Christmas period our staple present wrapping and hamper responsibilities all went according to plan and the workforce was well practiced for their own Christmas preparations!

Mike Tuohy

assessment delivery team The assessment delivery team has seen many changes in 2013, with some team members moving on to pastures new whilst other new assessors joined the team.

place. We continue to support and overcome our customers’ work-related needs which occur as result of an individual’s health condition or disability.

The quality of these assessments can only be achieved THE NEW EQUIP OUT NOW! through the high calibre of People, assessor working for RBLI. Products, Whether they be past or presBusinesses ent, in-house or part of our changing the workplace for bank delivery, commitment to customer excellence always rethe better main high.

Available in The locations this year have print & online: been as unique as the year beissuu.com fore. We visited and supportWhat has remained constant ed nearly 4000 people from throughout the year is the un- Lands End in the far Southvarying delivery of high qual- West to Whitstable in the exity assessments in the work- treme East. In addition to our

14 print & mail, assessment delivery team

unique South-East contract with DWP, we have also picked up some great independent work which has seen us deliver in Northampton, Liverpool and as far north as Leeds. We have even undertaken the odd trip

4000

people visited into Wales to support one of our national suppliers.

The activities last year have really pushed the team in a positive way, and we are determined to make 2014 even better for RBLI and its beneficiaries!

Edward Tidbury

care & welfare The RBLI Care & Welfare Team continue to provide high quality care, with occupancy rates at high levels throughout the year.

Some members of the Care & Welfare Team also organised fundraising events for the Friends of Gavin Astor House.

events

fireworks pantomimes christmas fayre

These included a fireworks evening as well as a wide range of well-received seasonal events.

Gavin Astor House enjoyed a particularly busy Christmas with two Pantomimes, a carol performance by some local Brownies, a Christmas Church Service run jointly by Allington Baptist Church & Aylesford C of E, and even a show by the Boxley Hand Bell Ringers which involved resident participation! Not to mention the Gavin Astor House Christmas Fayre, which raised over £1200 for its residents. There was also a ‘Cheese & Wine and Carols & Cake’ evening, which saw great support from residents’ friends and families.

gah christmas fayre

raises over £1200, opened by mayor

The Fayre was opened by the Mayor and Mayoress of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Howard Rogers and Mrs Jane Rogers (below)

© David Hodgkinson

gardening award for residents We would also like to say congratulations to Ian Aviolet & Iris Hopkins (pictured above), who, in recognition of all their hard work on the gardens at Gavin Astor House, received a ‘Love Your Environment’ Gardening Award. Presented at an event on the 10th of December at Tonbridge Castle, the award goes to individuals/ groups who have shown that they ‘love where they live’ by improving the environment in their area.

A NEW THERAPY BATHROOM is to be the highlight of the New Year, with work in Gavin Astor House due to be completed in the near future. The Care and Welfare Team are also hoping to secure funding for a second pool in 2014, enabling residents more regular access to the facility.

health & wellbeing

Ramp up the Red – The British Heart Foundation’s initiative to raise money for those suffering from a heart condition takes place on 7th February. To do our bit, we are offering RBLI staff the chance to wear red for the day and pay £1 towards this great cause.

A new exercise group will also be forming, taking place in the Capel Morris Centre for 30 minutes once per week, to provide staff with the opportunity to improve their physical health during their break.

Some of the members of the Team are beginning our next gardening project, with an allotment on Hermitage Lane and a new polytunnel to produce fruit and vegetables to be sold on the RBLI site.

An Aylesford Men’s Shed is to be established, with ex-Forces personnel and local people coming together to participate in projects to benefit the local community.

care & welfare 15

employment solutions dartford branch opening

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eader of Dartford Borough Council, Councillor Jeremy Kite MBE, formally opened RBLI’s new office in Dartford on 22nd October (pictured above). RBLI’s team in Dartford will be providing the Government’s Work Programme to local jobseekers.

Councillor Jeremy Kite said, “I am delighted

to open this new office in Dartford and it’s great to know that RBLI will be helping people who have faced long-term unemployment get back into the workplace.

“RBLI has a fantastic reputation, and by providing people with the right training, guidance and support, I am certain they will make a real difference to their confidence and ability to find long-term employment.”

jobs for 28 rbli customers in margate RBLI’s Margate office helped 28 customers receive jobs at the recently opened B&M Store in Margate.

B&M, a discount retailer, were looking for candidates in the local area to fill a variety of roles at their new store. 75 customers from RBLI’s Margate office applied for the positions, far exceeding the 30 allocated positions available.

The team examined the CVs submitted and selected the 30 most suitable applicants, of which 28 were successful in receiving a job at B&M. The B&M Store was officially opened on 15th November by Laura Sandys MP, the Member of Parliament for South Thanet. B&M were thrilled with the candidates supplied through the RBLI Margate office, as well as the facilities on hand.

business support

achievements & improvements

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ith 5 members of the Business Support team on maternity leave this year, the other team members have seen a focus on recruitment and training. These challenges were well met, however, with Carly Skeffington being promoted to Business Support Manger and Claire Jeffery and Laura Prentice promoted to Team Leader.

16 employment solutions, business support

During 2013 there were many high points, in April Claire Jeffery won Employee of the Month, in November, the Work Programme Pod achieved a 98% referral to attachment conversion (the highest yet) and the Access to Work Pod processed over 500 referrals in two months.

These impressive results would not have been achieved without the support and team work of all employees.

human resources 171 new rbli employees in 2013

sampled some delicious healthy foods – who et another busy year has gone by and due knew blueberry pancakes could be so healthy?! to RBLI’s commercial successes, another We are looking into organising another event year of growth in the workforce at RBLI, which this year and if anyone has any ideas we would has certainly kept us busy – we now have 390 really like to hear them. people employed at RBLI: 171 new employees joined us in 2013, be they permanent, fixed The HR.net service, offering an online portal term, transferred in, or bank. for all RBLI employees to request those all important holidays as well as updating We hosted a long overdue Welcome Day for personal details among other things, has been 60 employees in December that gave those extended out to all employees. With the much people new to the company an idea of the range appreciated support from our colleagues in of products and services that the company Business Systems, we will continue to update provides, as well as some of the history. An and upgrade the service in the new year, in interactive and fun session these will now be particular, the rollout of e-recruitment which will support HR and recruiting managers alike. planned for every month for 2014.

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continuing upgrade of hr.net

welcome session for 60 employees

We changed our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provider in May to Health Assured, who have provided an excellent service.

We also changed our Eyecare provider to Specsavers. Any employee who does not qualify for free eye tests i.e. not a regular PC user for work, qualifies for a £20 discount voucher on glasses up to £99, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you are going to use Specsavers for your personal eyecare.

Keeping on the topic of health and wellbeing, many of you attended the Change For Life Health Day early in 2013, run by Tonbridge & Malling Council and had a mini Healthcheck, tried out various exercise machines and

learning & development manager

We look forward to 2014, which will see the addition of a Learning & Development Manager to the HR ranks – a welcome addition to our team who will support your development in 2014 and beyond…

Geri, Victoria and Rena

cake sale, supporting students

future months, as the Head of Year 10 has asked The past year has also seen the Business Sup- the Business Support Team to provide a placeport Team fitting a number of voluntary activi- ment of 2 hours per week for 6 months as part ties into their busy schedule. In March, the team of the students active citizenship programme. organised an Easter themed cake sale, with all proceeds going to David’s Day, whilst during the rest of the Spring and Summer, they supported students from Bower Grove School with weekly work experience placements. The relationship Lauren Dawkins with Bower Grove is set to develop further in

human resources 17

taking on the london marathon We talk to Sharon Patmore about her plans to complete the 2014 Marathon Y

ou’re probably asking yourself ‘Why?’ – well, running the London Marathon has been one of my lifetime goals. Every year I turn the TV on and see all those runners, and I always think ‘I would love to do that’ but never actually do anything about it. This year was different. I guess they saw my age, and knew they didn’t have many in that age group so let me in!

People tend to react in two ways when I tell them about my success of getting a place : 1. Those who are overly excited and very happy for me.

2. Those who are more controlled and calm in their acknowledgement.

It seems those in the first group tend not to be runners, let alone runners who contemplate a marathon, whereas those in the second

group, who are not as excited, seem to have experienced the pain of marathons or other long runs themselves!

I have only completed 2 other organised races before, each

the weather was dry and quite pleasant. However, since then it hasn’t stopped raining, so training has been very damp and soggy. Rest days have been used to dry kit out, not just to have a rest!

I am keen to use this experience to raise money whilst achieving a lifetime goal – any and all donations will make this and all its pain all the more worthwhile! If you would like to sponsor me, my of these only 10k; that’s 32k less JustGiving website page is: than my 26 miles target! That’s http://www.justgiving.com/ not forgetting of course, that SharonPatmore. I intend to I am disadvantaged by height give my donations to Pilgrims (as you can see in the photo) Hospice and LifeWorks. meaning I have to complete more steps than most others Just 14 weeks to go and a to cover the same distance. target of 26 miles to achieve – In early December I completed wish me luck! a 10k with the SMT and although muddy underfoot Sharon Patmore

please make a donation: justgiving.co.uk/sharonpatmore

congratulations!

“I chose to run for the MS Trust because my sister was diagnosed with MS 8 years ago when she was 22. The MS Trust have not only helped my sister come to terms with her illness, but have also provided the family with support. They have even provided books for my sister to read to her children so they understand what is happening and why their mum sometimes hasn’t got the

18 taking on the london marathon

jill Phillips from rbli’s Work Programme ran the East Kent Coastal Half Marathon to raise money for the MS Trust.

Here, she tells Warblings the reason for her run:

energy to play with them.”

The MS Trust provides support and advice for over 40,000 people affected by multiple sclerosis.

Their publications supply and fund information that is tailored to what people want to know, including the latest updates on MS research and advice on relationships. All of the MS Trust’s information is provided free of charge.

Jill would like to thank all her colleagues for their donations and support in completing this Half Marathon, it has meant a lot to her and her family. To date she has raised £280 and the total is still growing.

EVER READ A PUBLICATION PRINTED BY A CHARITY?

NOW YOU HAVE.

RBLI Print and Mail deliver high quality digital and litho printing and direct mail for commercial and charitable organisations. As part of RBLI’s nationally recognised Social Enterprise, it provides employment for both veterans and people with disabilities.

For a competitive quote and more information: Tel: 01372 389 940 Email: info@rbli-pmf.com