Contact centre agents in Sunderland have helped to create a secret garden for a local charity centre.
Through the EDF Energy Helping Hands scheme – which allows all employees to take up to two days’ paid leave every year to volunteer in the community – teams of agents worked to ensure all of the overgrown shrubbery was taken away from the North East Autism Society Centre and replaced with an open space for the residents to enjoy.
The four teams involved in the project were each given a day to transform the gardens into a picnic and playing area for the Autism Society, which included removing an old, broken greenhouse, clearing the grounds, preparing turf and bark and painting fences.
“The team from EDF Energy carried out a real-life ‘extreme makeover’ on our grounds, transforming an overgrown area into a secret garden themed space that the children and young adults can enjoy,” said Paul McCairns, who works in Corporate Partnerships for the North East Autism Society. “The teams have done such a fantastic job, we can’t wait to start using the garden regularly.”
The team were thanked by the North East Autism Society with a space in the garden dedicated to them. Each team member was invited to place their hand print and name onto a wall in the gardens, so that the children and young adults who use the centre could see who created the garden especially for them.
“Now that the garden is complete, the children and families can use the area to plant their own plants, have picnics and they will be able to play safely,” said Emma Shearer, Community Investment Specialist at EDF Energy. “When we first saw the area it seemed it would be one of the most difficult projects that the Helping Hands had been involved in. However, all of the teams were up for the challenge and the results have been amazing.”
Author: Megan Jones
Published On: 10th Sep 2014 - Last modified: 22nd Mar 2017
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