Guest blog: Serving the community through partner volunteering

In October 2025, my colleagues and I from CGI and NATS rolled up our sleeves at the Sholing Salvation Army in Southampton to support FoodCycle, a national charity tackling food waste, food poverty, and loneliness. Together, we delivered two evenings of community engagement that went far beyond simply cooking. For us, it was about connection, compassion, and collaboration – qualities that define the relationship between CGI and NATS.

At CGI, I’ve always believed in using our skills and energy to make a positive difference in the communities where we live and work. Volunteering with FoodCycle was a reminder of how small actions – like sharing time, food, and conversation – can have a real impact. I found it humbling to see how much it meant to everyone involved.

An Ongoing Partnership

These events were part of our ongoing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) activities with NATS, focusing on community wellbeing and sustainability, alongside delivering the IT services that support NATS’ mission to keep the skies safe, and CGI’s dream to build a company we can all be proud of.

In the past, CGI and NATS have come together for ESG initiatives like tree planting, seagrass surveys, and beach cleans. This year, however, we turned our attention to the local Sholing community in Hampshire, near NATS’ corporate offices in Hampshire. Fifteen of us from both organisations volunteered to support FoodCycle through two separate events. Over several days, we promoted FoodCycle’s mission locally, gave the kitchens a thorough deep clean, and prepared and served freshly made three-course meals for local residents.

Each week, we welcomed around 35 guests from the Sholing area, offering them a warm, nutritious meal made from surplus food that would otherwise have gone to waste. During our volunteering, the group prepared tasty dishes including tomato soup, katsu curry, and mushroom lasagne. Volunteers from both CGI and NATS worked side by side to prepare, cook, and serve the meals, ensuring every guest left feeling valued and connected.

It was wonderful to see our NATS and CGI colleagues working together outside the office with such purpose and empathy. For us, this was about showing care for the community that surrounds us. It was great to have had the opportunity through our collaborative relationship with CGI to take this event a reality.

Emily Price, Director Analytics at NATS.

FoodCycle, founded in 2009, operates across the UK, transforming surplus food into nutritious meals and creating welcoming spaces where people can eat and talk together. For many attendees, these meals are a vital source of nourishment and social connection. Our partnership with FoodCycle reflects our shared values: social responsibility, collaboration, and sustainability. It’s an important part of the ISO 44001 Joint Relationship Management Plan.

Giving Something Back

This initiative showed me how our partnership with NATS extends far beyond business outcomes. Working with FoodCycle was a practical way to give back to our local community, bringing the same teamwork and commitment that define our professional relationship into a new setting.

‘Giving Something Back’ has long been part of both CGI and NATS’ cultures, and I’ve noticed that engagement scores on community involvement have improved in recent surveys. Events like this bring those values to life, transforming corporate collaboration into meaningful local action. The atmosphere on both evenings was one of warmth and teamwork, as we worked together – washing vegetables, plating desserts, and everything in between – embodying the spirit of cooperation and care that FoodCycle represents.

For many of us, the experience was both humbling and inspiring. It offered a hands-on opportunity to support the local community while strengthening the bonds between our two organisations. As one of my fellow volunteers said, “It’s amazing how something as simple as sharing a meal can make such a difference.”

This FoodCycle partnership is a strong example of how CGI and NATS continue to advance our ESG commitments through practical, people-centred initiatives. Whether cleaning, cooking, or connecting, the shared efforts of our teams highlight the power of partnership in creating positive change within our local communities.

I had a wonderful time and really appreciated the opportunity. I am now booked in to volunteer with FoodCycle again closer to the festive season and have recommended it to my family. The team from Foodcycle were so experienced and connected to the people they were helping, it was lovely to see and to be a part of.

Camilla Cassidy, Senior Analyst