Last Updated on: 22nd November 2023, 06:37 pm
91% of UK employers see the benefits of career breaks, as avios survey highlights growing ‘Voluntourism’ trend
A recent Avios survey found that 63% of Britons are interested in volunteering as part of a career break because it will give them a deeper sense of accomplishment from doing something worthwhile, while 79% stated they would prefer to work for employers who offered the opportunity to take career breaks.
The survey also showed that the benefits of pushing pause on a career is a positive for employers, with 91% seeing real benefits of the growing trend, including greater staff loyalty and productivity. 62% of people under the age of 44 believe that volunteering better prepares employees for working life.
New volunteering programme ‘Do More for Africa,’ by Avios and Tusk, taps into the growing trend of ‘voluntourism’ and demonstrates the direct relationship between volunteering opportunities and staff happiness, development and retention in the UK. Do More for Africa will give three people the life-changing opportunity to volunteer for positive change in Africa through conservation, communities and education.
Taking time off to travel, learn new skills and take part in extraordinary voluntary work are the leading reasons for creating Do More for Africa, an initiative that offers three people a place on the following Tusk-supported projects in Southern Africa: The Nakavango Conservation Programme, The Vulture Conservation Project and the Mokolodi Education Centre and Nature Reserve.
Katherine Jenkins, Tusk Patron, singer, songwriter and judge of the Do More for Africa competition, comments: “As a Patron of Tusk, I continue to be inspired by the outstanding work that Tusk is involved with across Africa and I hope to inspire others through the Avios and Tusk ‘Do More for Africa’ competition.
“Volunteering shows passion, dedication as well as a strong sense of character and I would urge people to take up this incredible opportunity to put your hand up and do your part to help protect Africa’s unique heritage. Volunteering is one of the most valuable and important things you can do with your time and we should all feel a responsibility to protect the beauty of this planet in the best way we can.”
Lisa Harris, Customer Director of Avios, comments, “We champion using your time off to inspire and discover unforgettable experiences and that’s the message at the heart of the Do More for Africa competition. We are honoured to partner with Tusk, world-renowned for their African conservation efforts, and Katherine Jenkins, on this competition which will give three people a life-changing travel opportunity.”
Charlie Mayhew MBE, CEO & Co-founder of Tusk adds, “Tusk is delighted to be collaborating with Avios and Katherine Jenkins on this exciting intitiative. I am sure it will bring home to many the vital importance of conservation and how volunteering can be part of our responsibility to protect Africa’s unique wildlife, tackle the causes of poverty and promote education.”
The Do More for Africa programme is open until 24 July 2017 via the competition website www.avios.com/forafrica. Entrants can simply upload a video or paragraph with images that express their interest in volunteering to win one of three life-changing, all-expense paid African opportunities. The three winners will be selected by the judging panel including Katherine Jenkins, Charlie Mayhew (Chief Executive of Tusk), Lisa Harris (Customer Director of Avios) and Paul Gardiner (Group Marketing Director of Mantis Collection).
