Randstad staff spice up their lives

Randstad employees and flex-workers have been involved in a range of ëspicyí activities all in the name of raising money to help combat the growing HIV and AIDS pandemic in India. The money raised will enable additional skilled professional volunteers to go to India to share their skills with local people and help make a valuable change.

Staff from across the 102 UK branches and in-house locations of the international recruitment company took an active role in the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) ëSpice up your lifeí week that ran from 3-13 March. ëSpice up your lifeí parties were held throughout the week with Randstad employees preparing Indian food and inviting flex-workers, contacts and in some cases clients along to the party. Those who attended donated money to help VSOís activities in India. Some employees even hosted their own ëcurry nightsí at home inviting friends and family along to enjoy one of the nations favourite foods.

In India 5.1 million people are living with HIV and AIDS, the largest number of people living with the virus outside South Africa. Only 100,000 people in India, fewer than two percent, have access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, which considerably helps to minimise symptoms associated with HIV. In Britain everyone living with HIV and AIDS has access to ARV drugs on the NHS.

Hans Hoogeveen, Managing Director of Randstad UK, said: ìThe Randstad and VSO partnership is proving to be a great success and ëSpice up your lifeí week marks our first major fundraising initiative in the UK. I am extremely proud of what all Randstad employees have done to help combat such an important pandemic. The money we have raised will help provide essential support to people living with HIV and AIDS in India. We are very much looking forward to working more closely with VSO over the coming years.î

The partnership between Randstad and VSO brings many benefits and Randstad is already supporting VSO by providing its expertise in the recruitment and selection of volunteers, as well as assisting returning volunteers back into work. The Randstad Groupís financial support will further help VSO to place more volunteers in a more diverse range of countries.

Ele Hanning, Consultant at Randstadís London Kingsway branch, said: ìI am very excited about the prospect of getting involved in the good causes VSO participates in. So many employees across the whole of Randstad, and many of our flex-workers, have expressed their desire to get involved with VSOís work. Iím delighted that, along with many colleagues, Iíll get the chance to help improve other peopleís lives.î

Randstad will be helping its employees and flex-workers to become actively involved in the partnership by volunteering for VSO themselves and participating in fundraising activities. Activities planned for later in the year will also provide Randstadís clients with the opportunity to participate.

Hoogeveen concluded: ìThrough the partnership, we will all be able to use our experience of recruitment, our network of branches and flex-workers to support VSO and make a real difference to the worldís poor.î