From Macmillan coffee mornings to running the London marathon: how the Kinetic team gives back
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By Clare Ody, VP of PBSA, Brand & Partnerships at Kinetic on Corporate Social Responsibility. At Kinetic we encourage our people to support the causes and communities that matter to them, with two paid Community Days each year. Here are just some of the ways Team Kinetic has been putting that time, energy and kindness […]
By Clare Ody, VP of PBSA, Brand & Partnerships at Kinetic on Corporate Social Responsibility.
At Kinetic we encourage our people to support the causes and communities that matter to them, with two paid Community Days each year. Here are just some of the ways Team Kinetic has been putting that time, energy and kindness into action.
At Kinetic, we spend our days building software for universities, student accommodation providers and hospitality businesses. But we are equally proud of the work that does not happen at a desk at all. Our Community Days are deliberately simple: step away from the day job, get involved in something meaningful and give back. We love that no two volunteering days look the same.
This year, our people have helped in community gardens, cared for rescue cats, baked for Macmillan and cycled more than 150 miles – to name just a few efforts! We are also preparing to pack Christmas gifts with KidsOut, while two colleagues train for the 2027 London Marathon.
This is a celebration of the people behind those moments, and an invitation to help us support the challenges still to come.
Rolling up our sleeves in Milton Keynes
A group of Kinetic colleagues swapped laptops for gardening gloves to support community gardens in Milton Keynes. It was practical, hands-on work building raised beds (without any power-tools!), but the day was about more than just the sawing and planting. It brought colleagues together away from meetings, gave them the chance to connect in a different setting, and helped care for a space that local people can continue to enjoy.
“It was amazing to step away from the office for a day and do something so hands-on. We worked hard, but it never felt like work. Seeing the difference we could make in just a few hours, while getting to know my peers outside our day jobs, made it incredibly rewarding.” Heba Khan
Community Days remind us that we are part of something bigger than our own to-do lists, and that a few hours of shared effort can leave a lasting mark. Arranged days like this one, where staff can get outside in nature and are especially popular with our sustainability team.
Sharon’s purr-fect day
Sharon used her Community Day to volunteer at a stray cat rescue centre, and anyone who knows Sharon will understand how this opportunity was made for her! The work was not glamorous: cages needed cleaning, cats and kittens needed feeding and nervous animals needed time, care and attention.
“I am a huge animal lover, so spending my Community Day at the rescue centre was a privilege. Meeting so many cats and kittens desperate for love, and hearing some of their stories, was heart-breaking, but knowing I had helped, even in a small way, made it a day I will never forget.” Sharon Sumner
It is a lovely reminder that giving back does not have to be big or public to be meaningful. A day of care for animals waiting for a new home is a day very well spent. Sharon also assures us that no cats went home in her handbag – much to our surprise!
She’s our Star Baker: Amy’s Macmillan bake sale
READY – STEADY – BAKE! The office smelled especially good when Amy and Hannah organised our Macmillan bake sale last month. So many people baked, donated and did their best not to go back for thirds, all while raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity very close to Amy’s heart.
Cancer touches so many people, directly or through the people we love, and this event gave us a chance to slow down, share a slice of cake and a conversation, and do something kind together.
We even had a competition where everyone voted for their favourite bake… we’re assured it wasn’t a fix, when Amy won ‘Star Baker’!
A huge thank you to Amy and Hannah for bringing it all together, and to everyone who arrived with a cake tin, donated or helped make the cakes disappear. We have raised over £1700 for Macmillan this year.
More than 150 miles and £15,000 for the Ellis Edwards Foundation
Community support extends beyond our local community, too. This year, Clare spent her community day supporting 21 cyclists taking on a mammoth challenge – they were riding over 150 miles from Wales to Bournemouth to raise money for the Ellis Edwards Foundation. Clare was one of 6 volunteers who donated their time to the South Coast Bike Ride, which raised an incredible £15,000 for the charity.
The cycling challenge was tough, especially the early mornings, the hills of Cheddar Gorge, and cycling 150+ miles in just 2 days! But with the cyclists was a team of 6 volunteers helping to keep the event moving; offering mechanical support, first aid, catering, navigation, photography and plenty of encouragement along the route.
“We had 21 cyclists and a support crew of 6 volunteers, many of us meeting for the first time. Over the course of two days we became a community – and friends, connected by a very worthy cause and a determination to help others. Watching everyone support each other through the physical and emotional challenges was incredibly special, and I’m so grateful to Kinetic for giving me a community day where I can really make a difference.”Clare Ody
Events like this only happen because people freely give their time, energy and expertise. £15,000 raised was a fantastic achievement and a powerful example of what a community can accomplish when everyone gets together and cycles up some really big hills!
Giving up our weekends for what matters most
Not every act of giving back happens through a Community Day. Across five arrivals weekends, 26 Kinetic colleagues volunteered their own time to support 15 customers, stepping into one of the busiest and most important moments in the student calendar.
From welcoming students and reassuring families to carrying luggage, directing queues, distributing keys and helping at check-in desks, our people worked alongside customer teams wherever they were needed.
These weekends are about far more than providing extra pairs of hands. They give us the chance to experience our customers’ world first-hand, see our technology in action and understand the pressure involved in helping thousands of students feel at home from the moment they arrive.
“Arrivals weekends are a real ‘penny drop’ moment. You see the pressure our customers are under, but you also see the excitement and nerves of every student walking through the door. Being there in person is incredibly rewarding and gives us a deeper understanding of the difference our people and products can make.”Tom Sherwood
For our customers, it means extra support when it matters most. For our colleagues, it brings fresh insight, stronger relationships and a renewed sense of purpose. Most importantly, it is a reminder that partnership is not just something we talk about. Sometimes, it means rolling up our sleeves, giving up a Saturday and standing alongside our customers on the biggest days of their year.
Looking ahead
We are so proud of what our people have already achieved, and these are just a few examples – and there is still plenty more to come in 2026. But there is one huge challenge in 2027 that two of the team are already preparing for…
Next stop: the London Marathon 2027
In April 2027, Pip Kelly and Dan Chesters will be stood at the start line of the London Marathon, raising money and awareness for causes close to their hearts. For the first and only time, the London Marathon will take place over two days, welcoming Pip, Dan and 99,998 other runners to the streets of London for a spectacular Marathon Weekend. Anyone who has trained for a marathon knows the commitment involved: early alarms, long weekend runs, sore legs and months of determination, all leading to one finish line. For Pip and Dan, however, the challenge is about much more than completing 26.2 miles.
“I love running, but The London Marathon has always felt like one of those challenges that is bigger than me. Knowing that every training run and every mile on race day is helping raise money for a cause I care about makes all the hard work worthwhile. There will be tough moments, but remembering why I am doing it will keep me going.”Pip Kelly
“For me, this is not really about the finish medal. It is about making a difference for people who need support, and fundraising to enable life-changing research to continue. Training for a marathon is demanding – I’m only 10 weeks into being ‘a runner’, and it’s not easy! But if I can raise awareness and funds for such an important cause, it feels like a privilege to take part.” Dan Chesters
We are incredibly proud of them both, and we would love the wider Kinetic community to get behind them. Whether you are a customer, partner, colleague or friend, every donation and message of encouragement will help carry them through the training miles and towards the finish line.
It is part of who we are
Running, cycling, baking, gardening, caring for animals and packing gifts. However our people choose to give back, they bring the same care to their communities that they bring to our customers every day, and we’re very grateful that they continue to show that giving back is part of who we are.
Looking ahead, we’ll be cheering Pip and Dan all the way to London. Every donation helps and every act of kindness, big or small, makes a difference. If you’d like to help with their fundraising efforts please get in touch.
If you’d like to support our fundraising and community efforts, or have an idea about how we can get involved in yours, please get in touch: events@kineticsoftware.com
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