Community days at Britvic give employees the opportunity to give back to society through volunteering. In an ongoing series of blog posts we’ll find out how colleagues have been making use of this benefit.
As a member of the Sikh community, we are encouraged to partake in selfless service.
This year, I used one of the community days on Vaisakhi. It is an ancient harvest festival but for Sikhs it celebrates the birth of the Khalsa (a community of pure individuals) when in April 1699 the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji tested the commitment of thousands of Sikhs. The first five baptised become known as the Panj Pyare (Beloved Five) and gave Sikhs their distinct identity. Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar and is celebrated on 13th or 14th April.
I spent my community day supporting my local Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship): something that was important to me and significant to the community. I knew it was going to be one of the busiest days in the Gurdwara, a lot of support would be required from volunteers in the community kitchen, which serves vegetarian meals to all free of charge, regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity. People sit on the floor and eat together, and the kitchen is maintained and serviced by community volunteers. I had the opportunity to support in the community kitchen throughout the day, from washing dishes, to serving food and topping up the Robinsons squash!
In addition, I used the drinks donation available to employees and shared it within the community kitchen on Vaisakhi. It was a day where I had the chance to celebrate a significant event in my calendar through volunteering, talking to members of the community and share the brands of Britvic.
Here at Britvic, we have the opportunity to give back to good causes that mean something to us, in ways that work for us and support our Healthier People, Healthier Planet strategy and broader 2025 agenda, and in turn allows us to be trusted and respected within our communities.
Deep Athwal Legal Counsel, B-Diverse Steering Committee Member
