Supporting each other and the wider community

“Be kind” is a phrase that is much bandied about on social media these days, to the extent where it almost loses its meaning. But over the last year, the team at Liquid Friday has really lived up to those two little words. 

From exhaustive fundraising for local and national causes to supporting each other by getting involved in various internal initiatives, they have embraced Liquid Friday’s pillar value of respecting others; as company CEO, I feel quite the proud Dad!  

Charity

Back in February, we watched the terrible events unfolding in Ukraine and were inspired to do what little we could to help. Together with donations from the wider Liquid Friday community we raised a total of £1377 for The British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. I’m sure I speak for all of us in hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in 2023.

As 2022 continued, so did the team’s fundraising efforts. Across a number of office charity days, the team raised a combined total of £977 for Wear it Pink for breast cancer, BBC Children in Need and Christmas Jumper Day for UNICEF – with a lot of laughs (and cake) along the way!

As a Portsmouth-based business and employer, local causes have remained close to our hearts. Our chosen local charities are St Claire’s Hospice and the Paulsgrove Food Pantry and we will continue to support these amazing organisations in 2023.

Ethical focus

Mental health

While the team has given generously to outside causes, supporting each other has been equally important to us as a business. 2022 saw a renewed focus on mental health and the appointment of the fantastic Sarah Taw as Liquid Friday’s Mental Health Workplace Responder, who works alongside the HR team to promote positive mental health in the workplace.

We have introduced initiatives including Wellness Wednesdays, and introduced various activities and resources to actively support mental wellness. The aim is to lose the stigma around mental health and create a safer and happier working environment for all. 

EDI

At Liquid Friday we have always tried to cultivate a working environment of inclusion and openness. This year we really honed in on this ethos with the launch of a new EDI policy and  by initiating conversations around Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace.

In the coming year we will continue to work towards embedding EDI in our company culture and actively promoting it to others. In 2022 we became ambassadors for the LGBTQ+ equality charity Stonewall and in 2023 we are sponsoring Portsmouth Pride for the first time! 

In the spirit of equity, the fledgling Liquid Friday Women’s Network was created, with a mission to connect, support and elevate women of all ages and stages of their careers to achieve their true potential. We look forward to developing the network into a platform and driver for true gender equity across our industries and communities.

Bring on 2023!

Writing this, I realise the enormous amount we have achieved in 2022, and I’m immensely proud of my team for their generosity of spirit and for just getting involved with anything we throw at them. In the coming year we’ll be doing even more to make Liquid Friday a great place to work, and continuing our efforts to help others.  

In the meantime, I raise a glass and wish a Happy New Year to everyone!