We offer all our employees volunteering opportunities. In 2006 over 20% participated in community initiatives. All of those involved felt that they had benefited from volunteering. Benefits included gaining a greater awareness of issues facing communities, improving relationships with colleagues, and developing time management and communication skills.
In spring 2007 we will be moving our Head Office to York House in the City of Westminster, London W1. In preparation for this move 24 of our Head Office people participated in team challenge days in the Westminster area.
South Westminster is a unique part of London. It is alongside the seat of government and it is also one of Westminster City Council's neighbourhood renewal areas, with some of the most deprived communities in the country.
In the Autumn our volunteers planted and tidied gardens on three housing estates in South Westminster. They worked with local residents as well as people from Groundwork London and the Cross River Partnership. Members of the local community have taken on responsibility for maintaining these green areas.
Another team carried out a research project at Abbey Community Centre in South Westminster. This Centre has been offering space and facilities to local people for 60 years. Our volunteers gathered information for a presentation on the history of the local community from local residents and archives.
Near our current Head Office in Camden we continued to work with the Education Business Partnership. A team of employees provided reading support to children at Netley Primary School in Camden. We plan to continue this support after our move to York House in 2007.
Our senior managers passed on their knowledge and expertise in a variety of roles:
- Adrian Penfold, Head of Planning and Environment, was a board member of the West Euston Partnership and the West Euston based Third Age Project.
- Chris Forshaw, Head of Internal Audit, mentored a senior GP at Fountayne Road Health Centre in Hackney.
- Claudine Blamey, Corporate Responsibility Executive, was a Governor of South Camden Community School.
- James Taylor, Asset Manager for Residential Properties, was a member of Hackney Housing Steering Group and the Built Environment Action Group.
- Nigel Webb, Head of Developments, and Miles Price, Planning Executive, provided planning support and consultancy to Hackney Borough Council.
- Simon Wood, Asset Manager, spoke at a careers day at South Camden Community School about working in the property industry.
