Volunteering is a great way to give back to the local community and can help employees gain new skills and experiences while improving their morale, physical health and work-life balance.
We launched our volunteering policy in 2019 and we encourage all employees to take advantage of one paid day per year to carry out volunteer work to support charitable or community activities.
The type of volunteering we support includes:
- Community care work
- Environmental work and conservation projects
- Fundraising for community projects or charities
- Administration of public events.
Wildlife and Wetlands Trust
Ten members of our sustainability team tackled a range of maintenance tasks at The Wildlife and Wetlands Trust’s Slimbridge reserve in Gloucestershire.
The team used their annual volunteering day to cut back reeds and hedging, clear bracken and make fence panels to support the Trust’s conservation work.
“The charity lived up to its name as it absolutely poured down for most of the day,” said previous sustainaiblity data manage, Rachel Sapstead.
“I worked in the duck tunnel, which is used to capture wildfowl that needs to be tagged and monitored. It needs to be kept clear of reeds so the ducks have nowhere to hide. It was a really good day, despite the rain, and was a great way to build team morale.”
Jamies Farm
Members of our south concrete team volunteered for to help Jamie’s Farm improve the gardens at its Bath site.
The charity helps disadvantaged young people, predominantly aged 11-16, to flourish in education, at home and in the community through a unique residential programme built around Farming, Family and Therapy at its four sites.
The nine-strong team of colleagues refurbished a seating area around a fire pit as well as an area where children can talk to support staff. They also put up a fruit cage to protect the soft fruit grown on the farm from birds and animals. It is looked after by children staying on the farm and the produce grown on site is then cooked by the resident chef.
James Moorhouse, regional director for Hanson Concrete, said: “It was great for us to be able to take advantage of the one paid day per year that the company offers all employees to support local projects and activities as part of its health and wellbeing programme.
“It was an extension of the ongoing commitment we have to Jamie’s Farm and it was fantastic to be able to do something, as team, that will make a real difference to the young people visiting this amazing place.
