21 At Paradigm, we are really passionate about doing more in the community, so I thought I would share a little insight into what the team have been up to. You may already know about our Reverse Advent initiative, which we have now run for eight years. Rather than counting down to Christmas in the traditional sense, we encourage our team, members and Lender and Provider partners to donate items or make financial contributions throughout December to support Trussell foodbanks. It has become one of those things that genuinely feels part of who we are as a business, and the enthusiasm the team brings to it every year still makes us proud. But our community commitment does not stop in December. Alongside the Reverse Advent, Paradigm staff also get the opportunity to do also a 'Day to Make a Difference', which gives us a paid annual day to spend volunteering in our local community. It is a simple idea, yet the impact, both on the causes being supported and on the people taking part, is anything but small. The team in our Birmingham office regularly use this to support our local foodbank distribution centre which is also part of the Trussell network. In one of our recent volunteering day myself, Gio Chanda and Michelle Day spent time at the food distribution centre helping with everything from packing and boxing food parcels to office administration, refreshing signage, visiting other sites and helping set up the space for other volunteers. Practical, unglamorous, genuinely useful work. What our team took away What struck us most in hearing about the day was not just the tasks completed, but what the experience gave back to the people who took part. Volunteering together, away from desks and targets and day-today pressures, creates a different kind of connection between colleagues. You see people in a new context. You solve problems together. You share an experience that has nothing to do with business, and you come back with a stronger sense of who you are working alongside. The team-building value of a day like this is real, even if it is not the reason you go. Foodbanks play a vital role in communities, but they are stretched. The Trussell network and organisations like it rely on volunteers, donated time and practical support to function. These centres do far more than distribute food. They offer dignity and stability to people in crisis, connect individuals with essential services, and provide a point of contact for people who may have nowhere else to turn. The bigger question So, this is less of a story about what we have done, and more of an invitation to reflect on what your business could do. Does your firm have a volunteering policy? Do your team members have dedicated time to give back? Are there local organisations in your area that would genuinely benefit from an afternoon of willing hands? You do not need a formal programme to start. A single afternoon, one team, one local cause. The benefits to the community are clear. The benefits to your team might surprise you! If you have a story to share about community volunteering within your firm, we would love to hear it. And if you are looking for somewhere to start, the Trussell network is always a good place to look. Paradigm Think Piece Giving Back: What Could Your Business be Doing? Amarjot Butcher Senior Marketing Coordinator "I defy anyone to not feel kinder, humble and warmer inside after sifting through donation crates and itemising tins of food. I think everyone has enjoyed the experience now...how good is that?!" - Robert Hunt.
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