Cosy staff ready to ‘help out’ at local schools

Staff at educational products firm Cosy are getting ready to boost local schools by joining in a volunteering initiative being staged as part of the Coronation celebrations.

The Monday bank holiday has been earmarked for The Big Help Out, which encourages people to try volunteering for themselves and join the work being undertaken to support their local areas.

Queen’s Award-winning Cosy will be closing its doors next week with its staff volunteering their services to help local schools.

Cosy managing director Nick Walker said: “Volunteering is important to us here at Cosy and we give our staff two paid days off every year, to volunteer.

“This generates more than 2,000 hours in helping our communities.

“We’re suppliers of Early Years and Nursery school products, so it felt right to give back to schools in the area.

“We have 100 members of staff who will be taking part in The Big Help Out, which we will split into groups of between six and eight.

“They will then go into schools in Derbyshire and Staffordshire to paint walls, dig gardens and to generally improve the school environment in any way that they can.”

Cosy currently gives more than 10% of its profits to support grassroots projects both at home and abroad.

Founder of Cosy, Peter Ellse, said: “Volunteering not only makes a positive impact on the community, but it is also good for mental wellbeing and creating those ‘softer skills’ sought by employers.

“It will be a chance for us at Cosy, to bring various departments, of varying ages, together for a good cause.

“King Charles is a fantastic advocate for volunteering and giving back and has, over the years, been to Derbyshire several times to show his support for some of the incredible charities that are doing invaluable work here.

“When I met him last year, as I collected Cosy’s Queen’s Award for Enterprise, he listened with interest as I spoke about the charities that we’re involved with, the likes of Derby Kids Camp and the YMCA Derbyshire.

“We’re looking forward to bringing our staff together to celebrate The Big Help Out and the King and Queen Consort’s Coronation.”

Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, said: “I am so pleased to hear of Cosy’s plans to support the Big Help Out day.

“Volunteers are key to our society, the glue that binds us together and this special day provides a marvellous opportunity to showcase organisations needing volunteers and encourages more of is to get involved.”