Employees from Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), based in Liverpool’s Royal Liver Building, have completed a day of volunteering during national Volunteers’ Week at Emmaus Merseyside.
On Tuesday 6 June, we welcomed 16 USS employees who worked together with companions and local volunteers in our community garden. Emmaus Merseyside is an award-winning charity that provides a home, training, work opportunities and individual support to people who have experienced homelessness.
USS employees selected us as their charity of the year and wanted to lend a hand during Volunteers’ Week, 1 to 7 June, to help and find out more about our charity’s work.
Helen McEwan, Chief Pensions Officer at USS, said: “We all had a fantastic day gardening at Emmaus Merseyside which does fantastic to help people from across the city region who find themselves homeless.
“Our team are really inspired by the dedication of everyone involved at Emmaus in producing such an amazing array of plants, flowers and organic produce. The team had a great day bonding and having fun and I would recommend volunteering to anyone who is able to spare some time.”
Established in 1974, USS is the largest private pension scheme in the country, and the principal pension scheme for universities and Higher Education institutions in the UK. The USS team in Liverpool, some 230 employees, manage pensions for over 500,000 members and their families.
Recognising the impact of all volunteers
Marc Bamber, Chief Operating Officer at Emmaus Merseyside, said: “The USS volunteer day made a big impact and we’re really grateful for everyone’s help within our community garden.
“As part of Volunteers’ Week, I’d also like to pay tribute to our local volunteers, trustees and everyone who has volunteered in support of Emmaus Merseyside over the past 12 months. Volunteers make a massive contribution to our charity and we’re fortunate to have a really dedicated group of individuals who support us week in, week out.”
2023 marks the 39th year of Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June) and Emmaus Merseyside is one of thousands of charities and voluntary organisations recognising the contribution volunteers make across the UK. This year’s theme of Volunteers’ Week is ‘Celebrate and Inspire’, encouraging people to be the change that they want to see and get involved in volunteering in whatever way works for them.
Emmaus Merseyside is supported by a team of 16 dedicated local volunteers, in addition to 7 individuals who volunteer as trustees of the charity. We also regularly welcome teams of corporate volunteers who help in our community garden and Charity Superstore.
Find out more about the Emmaus Merseyside charity and social enterprise.