Business in the Community takes on The Grove Adventure Playground

Business in the Community employee volunteers had the unique opportunity to participate in the activities of the Grove Adventure Playground and to witness the effect on the children who depend on it. On 28th July, a group of fourteen volunteers from Business in the Community hosted an activity day at Grove Adventure Playground, as a Team Challenge arranged through the London Cares programme. The children were inspired by the new roles models from the world of work, who spent the visit focused entirely on their needs and providing an enjoyable day.

Grove Adventure Playground is a community arts and education organisation providing an open access after school programme to local eight to twelve year olds. The core staff and volunteers work together to maintain a safe and comfortable environment, in which the children living in Lambeth and Southwark can freely access play and recreational activities. They are committed to providing children with a broad range of enjoyable and educational experiences, as well as diverse role models, to support them in achieving their potential. The organisation also encourages the children and their families to understand the importance of their role within the wider community.

Volunteers from a variety of departments spent the day working together to keep the group of thirty children engaged and entertained. Activities on the day included a football match, creating carnival masks, colouring murals, painting outdoor play structures and computer assistance, amongst others, which the children were given free-range to participate in throughout the day. They were also treated to personalised homemade pizzas for their lunch. A Business in the Community intern, who grew up in the neighbourhood, gave an inspirational speech to the entire group describing his unique history and what his community meant to him. His participation was a great opportunity for the children to see a role model they could not only admire, but relate to.

The day spent interacting with the children and community centre employees provided the Business in the Community volunteers with an opportunity to develop and exchange a variety of skills, whilst creating bonds with colleagues that they do not often have a chance to work with. Although only 20% of employee volunteers had volunteered through their company before, 100% reported they were in favour of their company entering a partnership with a community partner, involving opportunities for longer term commitment and would be interested in volunteering through their company again in the future.

“Seeing the difference that we made for a day to the children and staff was fantastic. I was also quite nervous about communicating with the children as I don't have much experience with kids, especially those from other backgrounds. But because it was very informal and we were able to just get stuck in with colleagues, I was surprised at how easy it was and how quickly I was rewarded by eager smiling faces!” Employee volunteer, Business in the Community
 

Posted 3rd September 2008