The entire UK CSL Behring business left the office for a special Community Day to provide voluntary work for two local charitable organisations at Christmas. Forty two colleagues, including UK and Ireland General Manager Christian Wieszner and the leadership team, took part in the Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
Team 1 prepared, helped cook, and served lunch for 40 needy older people and Ukrainian refugees at the Cherry Tree Centre, a community centre near their Haywards Heath head office. They hung the centre’s hall with festive decorations, entertained guests with a quiz and games, and transformed a hallway with a fresh coat of paint.
Team 2 spent their Community Day sorting contributions given to a nearby hospice. These will be sold in charity shops to raise money to fund its care for people with life-limiting illnesses. Hospices receive only about a quarter of the funding they need from the Government and have to raise the rest themselves through charity shops and other activities.
Managers at the Cherry Tree Centre, which is run by Mid Sussex Voluntary Action, warmly welcomed the return of the CSL Behring team after a successful Community Day there in July. On that occasion colleagues painted and decorated a community IT room and transformed the garden.
MSVA Head of Operations, Claire Sumpter, said she was absolutely delighted with the support the “CS Elves” provided and couldn’t wait to have them back again in the summer.
She said: "The entire group worked so hard in each of the work areas; the party room was wonderfully festive, the kitchen produced delicious results and the newly decorated entrance hall was a joy to walk into the following morning!
"The Festive Party was an enormous success; so many smiles and so much laughter and song. It was a true community event attended by many of our Community Café customers, groups, service providers and Ukrainian guests. I am sure that it will be a fantastic memory for everyone who was there."
Her colleague Sara Smart, volunteer co-ordinator, said: “I just want to thank your team for the most fabulous day. It was such a huge success and enjoyed by everyone that joined us for lunch and the party. The laughter and joy in the room was testament to that.
“Each team worked so hard and made the day what it was. We are so grateful to each of them, and really hope they enjoyed it as much as we did. I hope I get the chance to work with you again on further community days.”
Christian said: “It was a magical day to be among all colleagues and tangibly making a difference to people in need. A good moment to reflect which helps to put things into perspective, especially how privileged we are.”
GBR-CRP-0388 Date of Preparation December 2022