Arcus in the Community with Simon Aston
Arcus offers the initiative ‘Arcus in the Community’ (AitC) to provide support to the things that matter most to their colleagues. Twice a year, colleagues can apply for funds or ‘man-power’ hours to support a charity, community group, grass-routes sports team, or a personal project that may be aligned to one of the organisations priority groups; care leavers, those with learning difficulties, ex-offenders, and armed forces leavers.
Simon Aston, Internal Communications Officer, shares his experience of using AitC to make a difference in his community.
Simon Aston
Internal Communications Officer
Arcus in the community is a fantastic initiative that I’ve been fortunate to receive funding from twice. My first application was to support the 67th Girls Brigade, a youth group for young people, aged 4-16, and gives them access to volunteers who teach them life skills, arts and crafts, values, and gives them a chance to socialise.
After the pandemic, much of their resources, such as arts materials and sports equipment, were outdated and needed replacing, but with a lack of funding, this just wasn’t possible. The money received from Arcus not only gave every young person that attends a new stationery set each, but also funded new group games, used for competitions and team building.
I was lucky enough to go along and present them with their new equipment, and they were so grateful for the generosity and new equipment.
In the last round of applications, I applied for funding for a more personal cause – to support my daughter.
She has been given an amazing opportunity through CAMPS International to go and volunteer with young people in Peru this summer after finishing her GCSE’s. The young people attending have to fund the trip themselves through sponsorship and fundraising., Thanks to Arcus in the Community, Arcus has kindly agreed to act as one of her sponsors, helping her to take part in this once in a life time experience.
Her month-long trip will see her stop in several places across Peru to engage with the young people in the local communities, before completing a trek along the Inca trail to Machu Picchu.
When her t-shirts and equipment are printed for her trip, the Arcus logo will displayed prominently, along with the other sponsors, as a show of appreciation and of their support for young people and their development. Her fundraising is nearly over, and she’ll be completing the trip throughout July and August of 2025.
As part of my role, I work closely with the Social Value team to encourage submissions from colleagues and this gives me a firsthand look at the incredible causes we support.
I’d encourage any of my colleagues who have a cause they are passionate about to take submit a nomination, you have nothing to lose, whilst your cause could gain so much.
