We are pleased to have recently partnered with the Energy, Projects and Construction team at the legal firm, CMS Cameron McKenna. Historically, each year the team enjoys a Team Away Day and previous events included outward bound days and sailing trips.
This year they were looking for a team event that was challenging, fulfilling and most importantly would result in a tangible benefit for a charity or community group. They engaged Across the Divide (ATD) to help source, prepare and deliver their event.
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- Leonard Cheshire centre
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- Project Briefing from Leonard Cheshire centre
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- Team work to complete sensory garden
The criteria for sourcing the charity partner and project were straightforward enough. The EPC team needed a project that would:
- engage the full range of people within their team
- be within one hour of London
- keep 70 people busy for one day
- and… most importantly result in a lasting and sustainable outcome.
What we did next…
Across the Divide explored possible options via our contacts within the charity and voluntary sectors. This resulted in a comprehensive long-list for the client. Possible projects included creating wildlife gardens in schools, constructing a woodland walk, decorating a home for young people and developing a community allotment. The project that client finally chose was to provide assistance at a Leonard Cheshire residential home for residents with disabilities.
About the project
The project proposed by Leonard Cheshire was designed to achieve two outcomes. Firstly, we would support the work of the site gardener by assisting with major maintenance work. The gardener looks after 6 acres of grounds and it can be a real struggle to find the time to deliver larger scale work. Our work involved:
- cutting back, pruning, tidying and clearing the trees/shrubs that lined the 150 metres driveway
- lining the driveway with marker posts to provide a safe route for residents
- plant flowering bulbs to provide colour alongside the entrance to the site.
What a difference……
Initially the client wondered whether one day of activity could make a difference. However, 70 people volunteering a 7 hour day equates to 14 weeks full time for the gardener.
Secondly, the Centre was extremely keen to install two new features for the benefit of the residents:
- a sensory walkway accessible from wheelchairs
- two raised bed planters designed for growing vegetables
How the day went
After an initial welcome from the Centre Manager and a full briefing on health and safety, the groups got underway with the projects. For these events to be successful, it has always felt important to ATD that the participants/teams have full ownership for the project and can achieve the best possible outcome for the charity. To this end, each team was supported by a member of the Across the Divide team. Their role is to guide and advise the team on the technical elements of the project. The also manage and oversee the health and safety of the participants.
By the end of the day, the team had:
- re-landscaped the driveway and generated over 25 trailer loads of green waste ready for composting.
- installed and painted over 75 marker posts alongside the drive.
- planted 700 spring flowering bulbs.
- constructed a sensory walkway and planted over 80 plants chosen for the sight, sound, taste, smell and touch qualities.
- constructed 2 raised bed planters designed to maximise wheel chair access and filled with 6 tonnes of topsoil.
Filed under: corporate citzenship, Corporate ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, employee engagement, Ethics Tagged: | abingdon, across the divide, charity, CMS Cameron McKenna, CSR, Ethics, garden, landscape, leonard cheshire, project, team, teamwork, work, working
