Employees at Pennant International are given the opportunity to take two paid days of volunteering leave each year. This initiative not only supports charitable organisations and individuals in need, but also benefits employees by encouraging personal growth, building connections, and enhancing overall well-being. Volunteering is recognised as a way to create positive change both for the community and for the volunteers themselves.
One project benefiting from this initiative is FORaMEAL, run by the Rotary Club of Canterbury. FORaMEAL focuses on delivering emergency meals to people affected by disasters. Every year, the project provides meals at no cost to vulnerable families worldwide. During Melbourne’s Stage 4 COVID-19 lockdowns, FORaMEAL adjusted its focus, delivering over 200,000 meals to locals in need. In June 2024, an additional 110,000 meals were given to Food Bank Victoria to help alleviate hunger for those impacted by the rising cost of living.
On 22 August 2024, a team of four Pennant employees in Melbourne decided to dedicate their volunteering leave to assist with FORaMEAL’s efforts. The team gathered at Camberwell Grammar School at 2:00 PM to help set up production lines. Their task was to package lentils, oats, rice, and essential nutrients into meal packs. Each pack provides a balanced meal for five to six people. By 3:00 PM, production lines were running smoothly, and by 6:00 PM, more than 20,000 meals had been prepared and loaded onto a truck for distribution.
One of the participating employees, Pamala Knyvett, expressed her enthusiasm about the experience, saying, “It was a fantastic opportunity to help those in need. I really enjoyed the sense of teamwork and was amazed by what we could accomplish together. Sharing this experience with my colleagues made it even more meaningful.”
Pennant International’s volunteering scheme demonstrates how employees can make a tangible difference while fostering a positive workplace culture.
Pennant International Group plc (LON:PEN) was established over 60 years ago and is a leading global provider of technology-based maintainer training and integrated product support solutions. The Group operates worldwide, with offices in Europe, North America and Australasia.