The Vodafone Group Foundation is searching for four people to put their jobs on hold for a year and take their skills and passion to work for their favourite charities. Through the World of Difference programme, the Foundation will pay four individuals up to £25,000 towards their outgoings as well as £20,000 in expenses.
Applicants can either choose to work for organisations based overseas or in their local areas as long as they are UK registered charities. In order to take part, an online application form can be filled in at www.vodafonefoundation.org and applications close on 31 July.
Research commissioned by The Vodafone Group Foundation and carried out by Tickbox.net/Opinion Matters shows that six million workers experience low points in their jobs on a daily basis. Many claim that a pay rise would help, but 41 per cent feel there is more to life than what they are doing now and many of these admit that taking a break from work to pursue other interests or offer their time to charity would boost their job and life satisfaction.
The survey also found that seventy per cent of people don’t feel that they could financially give up their jobs to do charitable work. Through the World of Difference programme, individuals will be paid a salary and expenses to enable more people to apply.*
Oscar-nominated actress Samantha Morton recently spent a day making a world of difference to her favourite charity A National Voice. She said: "I feel really passionate about helping children and young people who are in the care system. I support A National Voice as it aims to make positive changes to the Care System in the UK and gives a voice to those being cared for. The World of Difference project gives people the opportunity to work with their own favourite charity - I've seen first hand what a difference an extra pair of hands can make.”
Andrew Dunnett, Director, The Vodafone Group Foundation added: “When we’ve run this programme in other countries, organisations ranging from elephant projects in Thailand, to an orphanage in Columbia, to supporting a local centre for those with chronic pain have all been supported by successful applicants. We want four really passionate UK individuals to donate themselves to their favourite charities for a year to make a world of difference.”
World of Difference has received support from many UK charities and NGOs including Oxfam, MapAction and Business in the Community.
David Spackman, Director, MapAction said: “What a great idea, and many congratulations to the Foundation for coming up with such a good concept. I’ve put out an “all-stations” call to our volunteers in the hope that I can prise one away from their day-jobs to apply for the opportunity.”
Notes to Editors
Applicants can either choose to work for organisations based overseas or in their local areas as long as they are UK registered charities. In order to take part, an online application form can be filled in at www.vodafonefoundation.org and applications close on 31 July.
Research commissioned by The Vodafone Group Foundation and carried out by Tickbox.net/Opinion Matters shows that six million workers experience low points in their jobs on a daily basis. Many claim that a pay rise would help, but 41 per cent feel there is more to life than what they are doing now and many of these admit that taking a break from work to pursue other interests or offer their time to charity would boost their job and life satisfaction.
The survey also found that seventy per cent of people don’t feel that they could financially give up their jobs to do charitable work. Through the World of Difference programme, individuals will be paid a salary and expenses to enable more people to apply.*
Oscar-nominated actress Samantha Morton recently spent a day making a world of difference to her favourite charity A National Voice. She said: "I feel really passionate about helping children and young people who are in the care system. I support A National Voice as it aims to make positive changes to the Care System in the UK and gives a voice to those being cared for. The World of Difference project gives people the opportunity to work with their own favourite charity - I've seen first hand what a difference an extra pair of hands can make.”
Andrew Dunnett, Director, The Vodafone Group Foundation added: “When we’ve run this programme in other countries, organisations ranging from elephant projects in Thailand, to an orphanage in Columbia, to supporting a local centre for those with chronic pain have all been supported by successful applicants. We want four really passionate UK individuals to donate themselves to their favourite charities for a year to make a world of difference.”
World of Difference has received support from many UK charities and NGOs including Oxfam, MapAction and Business in the Community.
David Spackman, Director, MapAction said: “What a great idea, and many congratulations to the Foundation for coming up with such a good concept. I’ve put out an “all-stations” call to our volunteers in the hope that I can prise one away from their day-jobs to apply for the opportunity.”
Notes to Editors
*The research was carried out online by Tickbox.net/Opinion Matters between 15 April 2008 and 8 May 2008 amongst a nationally representative sample of 2676UK adults aged 16+. Tickbox.net adheres to and follows the codes of the MRS (Market Research Society) and is fully registered and compliant with the Data Protection Registrar.
Applications to a World of Difference close on 31 July. Terms and conditions apply. See www.vodafonefoundation.org for more details.
About The Vodafone Group Foundation (www.vodafonefoundation.org)
Applications to a World of Difference close on 31 July. Terms and conditions apply. See www.vodafonefoundation.org for more details.
About The Vodafone Group Foundation (www.vodafonefoundation.org)
The Vodafone Group Foundation has invested over £100 million in projects since its creation in 2002 concentrating on disaster relief, helping disadvantaged children via sport and music initiatives and specific projects across Vodafone's 23 local Foundations worldwide.
About A National Voice (www.anationalvoice.org)
About A National Voice (www.anationalvoice.org)
A National Voice is an organisation run by and for care experienced young people. Staff are also care experienced. Its main aim is to create positive changes to the Care System in England and provide a national platform to hear the voices of approx 60,000 children and young people who are Looked After.
About MapAction (www.mapaction.org)
About MapAction (www.mapaction.org)
MapAction is a charity that responds rapidly to the onset of a disaster and maps the situation in the field as the crisis unfolds. The maps are updated daily and issued to relief workers at the scene.
For further information please contact:
Helen Brockett
Communications Manager
The Vodafone Group Foundation
07500 032886
Katie Davies/Lucy Kemp
Shine Communications
020 7100 7100
