Employees from a Galway company spent a day recently carrying out renovations at the headquarters of a local charity as part of the organisation’s corporate social responsibility programme.
Twenty-five staff from the Aviva Galway office gave up their time to help Galway Rape Crisis Centre put in new flooring, paint walls and ceilings, as well as replace door handles and shelves at its premises in Forster Court.
Galway Rape Crisis Centre provides counselling and other support services to women, men, and young people aged 14 years and older in the city and county who are affected by sexual abuse and sexual violence. There were 3,126 appointments with counsellors at the centre last year.
Aviva Ireland, which provides general insurance, retirement income, life cover, protection and investment and savings products to corporate and individual customers, recently selected four charity partners which it will support over the next two years. The Galway office selected the local Rape Crisis Centre as its charity partner.
Caitlin Flanagan, the corporate responsibility manager for Aviva said the fact that its staff play a key role in the selection of its charity partners means they are “hugely invested” in the charities.
“This engagement is demonstrated by the ambitious renovation work that was undertaken last Saturday by 25 colleagues from our office here in Galway.
“Our colleagues are really engaged with this partnership with the Galway Rape Crisis Centre and they have been tremendous at getting behind this great cause as a result.”
The Aviva staff were assisted on the day by Belfor, a supplier and global restoration and repair company, which generously supplied the skilled labour needed to ensure the renovations were carried out to the highest standards.
Joanne Tierney, the fundraising and communications manager of Galway Rape Crisis Centre stated the organisation was “extremely grateful” to everyone at Aviva and Belfor for their time and skills.
“Our goal was to create a warm and welcoming environment for survivors when they attend the centre for counselling. This would not be possible without this corporate partnership and it will undoubtedly have a positive impact on those who we have the privilege of supporting.”
Galway Rape Crisis Centre can be contacted at its free helpline 1800 355 355 from Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm or by telephoning its national 24-hour helpline on 1800 778 888.
