Corporate volunteering days give your employees the chance to carry out practical tasks maintaining and improving our facilities for our participants to enjoy. They also help your teams learn new skills, connect with local communities and have fun outside of the usual work environment.
October 2021 saw a team of colleagues from AXA XL, based in Ipswich, arrive at The Bays, Clopton, ready for some physical labour to prepare the centre for the forthcoming winter months. Gary Campany, Head of UK Credit Control, chose this charity as he regularly drives past it each morning on his way to work and wondered if there was anything he and his colleagues could do to support this very worthwhile cause. He was warmly welcomed by the yard manager, Claire Hinitt and her group of dedicated volunteers. After an introductory briefing over coffee and biscuits, and a tour of the facilities, the new recruits were set to work.
The team split into two groups and began their tasks with gusto. One group went into the fields, armed with forks and wheelbarrows, to collect the horse droppings and remove ragwort, a plant poisonous to horses. The other group was directed to the stable block where the horses and ponies live during the cold winter months. Their job was to clean and disinfect the rubber matting and prepare each stable for its occupant. As Gary said, ‘everyone switches their laptops off and does something completely different’ on the day of volunteering.
The day ended with a photo opportunity for the team with some of our horses and ponies. The whole day was definitely something far removed from an office environment, despite the work being physical and dirty, everyone loved it. So much so that Gary is sure an even bigger team will volunteer next year and there are plans to support Woodbridge and District RDA in the longer term.
Gary feels that his team benefitted from their day in the countryside, finding out more about the difference that riding and carriage driving makes to the lives of disabled adults and children. He thanked all those at the Bays for being ‘welcoming and accommodating’ and in turn all the horses, ponies, staff and volunteers would like to thank the team from AXA XL for their enormous enthusiasm and help provided during their Global Day of Giving.
If you are interested and have any questions please contact us via email.
October 2021 saw a team of colleagues from AXA XL, based in Ipswich, arrive at The Bays, Clopton, ready for some physical labour to prepare the centre for the forthcoming winter months. Gary Campany, Head of UK Credit Control, chose this charity as he regularly drives past it each morning on his way to work and wondered if there was anything he and his colleagues could do to support this very worthwhile cause. He was warmly welcomed by the yard manager, Claire Hinitt and her group of dedicated volunteers. After an introductory briefing over coffee and biscuits, and a tour of the facilities, the new recruits were set to work.
The team split into two groups and began their tasks with gusto. One group went into the fields, armed with forks and wheelbarrows, to collect the horse droppings and remove ragwort, a plant poisonous to horses. The other group was directed to the stable block where the horses and ponies live during the cold winter months. Their job was to clean and disinfect the rubber matting and prepare each stable for its occupant. As Gary said, ‘everyone switches their laptops off and does something completely different’ on the day of volunteering.
The day ended with a photo opportunity for the team with some of our horses and ponies. The whole day was definitely something far removed from an office environment, despite the work being physical and dirty, everyone loved it. So much so that Gary is sure an even bigger team will volunteer next year and there are plans to support Woodbridge and District RDA in the longer term.
Gary feels that his team benefitted from their day in the countryside, finding out more about the difference that riding and carriage driving makes to the lives of disabled adults and children. He thanked all those at the Bays for being ‘welcoming and accommodating’ and in turn all the horses, ponies, staff and volunteers would like to thank the team from AXA XL for their enormous enthusiasm and help provided during their Global Day of Giving.
If you are interested and have any questions please contact us via email.
