Delivering social value through skilled volunteering
At Ceox, a certified B Corporation, we care about making a positive difference in the world. Skilled volunteering gives non-profit and charitable organisations free access to the professional skills and experience our people develop throughout their careers. Ceox encourages and supports colleagues who want to volunteer because it recognises the value this work creates for communities, charities and our people.
John Spanton, Ceox’s Director, Public Sector, recently volunteered to support SaxoFest, a one day music festival to celebrate 10 years of the Sax Bandits community band and raise money for two charities who are doing incredible life-changing work in the local community.
YPWD is a charity offering life-changing support to people diagnosed with young onset dementia – dementia that affects individuals under the age of 65, sometimes as young as 30. Founded in 2012 to fill a critical gap in care, YPWD provides tailored family support, workshops and activities (which include several music choirs) that help people regain confidence, independence and purpose.
The Music Club provides educational, out-of-school activities for children and young adults with disabilities and additional needs living in South Oxfordshire. The club uses music and movement activities to bring fun, play and leisure for disabled children and young people, and their families who may be at risk of social isolation and exclusion.
John worked as part of a group of volunteers, each bringing different experience with organising, promoting and running events, to ensure SaxoFest was a successful event that delivered a good fundraising outcome for the charities.
John’s experience in corporate events and marketing made him well placed to support several aspects of the event. He created SaxoFest’s sponsorship packages, worked with volunteers to engage potential business sponsors and collaborated with the event’s biggest sponsor to agree a tailored sponsorship package. John also supported ticket pricing and introduced a premium ticket option that sold out. Both initiatives generated valuable additional revenue streams.
SaxoFest donated all profits to the two charities. The final total of £7,129.51 will help support their fantastic work in the local community.
Rob Digweed, Sax Bandits Founder, commented “I’m very grateful to all the volunteers who helped to make SaxoFest a success. We raised an outstanding amount for the two charities, exceeding my hopes and expectations.”
Gavin Harte, Ceox CEO, commented “I’m delighted to see how skilled volunteering, an important element of our broader commitment to social value, has been able to make a difference for SaxoFest and the two charities.”