PricewaterhouseCoppers

A team from leading accountancy firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, visited Vitalise Jubilee Lodge in Chigwell for an employee volunteering day in July as part of their ‘PwC in the Community’ programme.

Among the many tasks tackled by the PwC Team were repairing and painting fences, clearing ditches and smartening up the gardens. The Team also demolished an old bin shed in readiness for a new one. A generous donation from PwC also paid for new plants and hanging baskets around the centre.

The PwC in the Community programme has enabled PwC staff to contribute time, skills and resources while also offering opportunities for everyone involved to gain new skills and personal fulfilment.

Kerry Hill, National Resource Officer of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, said:
“Vitalise is a great charity that works tirelessly to provide respite care for disabled people and their carers and we were pleased to be able to support their work. Everyone rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in. It was a fantastic opportunity for our resourcing teams to put something back into the community and work together in a different environment.”

 

Unum

Stafff from Unum’s HR division undertook their first volunteering challenge with Vitalise at Vitalise Netley Waterside House, Southampton in July 2010.

The challenge was to:

• replace and refurbish the decking area within the Centre’s grounds
• create a herb garden and weed and prune some of the overgrown area of the ground

The project was a huge success and guests now have a much more secure viewing platform to enjoy the views across Southampton Water. The team thoroughly enjoyed the experience and harnessed lots of enthusiasm, skills and abilities from all team members.

Paul Lukins, Unum HR Manager said:
“It was not only a very successful project but also very rewarding as reflected in feedback from one long term wheelchair-bound resident who told us how much she was looking forward to enjoying the views across the water in future from a much more secure viewing platform”.

 

Association of British Insurers (ABI)

A team from the Association of British Insurers took part in a day of volunteering at Vitalise Jubilee Lodge, Vitalise's respite centre in Chigwell.

The team spent the day hard at work in the grounds of the Centre. They rebuilt the rockery in the courtyard and filled it with new alpine plants. They also made fantastic work of sanding down and oiling the garden furniture.

Charlotte Searle from ABI said: "We had a wonderful day."

Reward

12 staff from sports marketing company Reward spent a day volunteering at Vitalise Jubilee Lodge.

In the weeks leading up to their volunteer day the team had raised money for a new pergola and climbing plants for the garden by holding fundraising events including a senior management team Slave Auction!

The team spent their day rejuvenating the patio garden, sanding and painting railings and, of course, building the new pergola. Everyone worked incredibly hard and the results really showed. Staff and guests were amazed at what they achieved and how fantastic it all looked.

Andy Richardson of Reward said
"Volunteering is a great way to mix contributing to the great work going on at Vitalise, with team bonding and spending time getting to know your work colleagues outside the office. The staff at Vitalise looked after us on the day with the same care and attention they provide their guests. Wonderful day!"