Corporate volunteers transform green open space

Volunteers from Nationwide and charity partner The RiskSTOP Group rolled up their sleeves and enjoyed a change of scenery during our corporate volunteering day. They stepped out of the office and embraced the fresh outdoors, rallying together to tackle our new green open space, which will be used as an outdoor learning hub for the people we support.

Volunteers got stuck in quickly, mowing the grass and trimming the hedges to ensure our students, learners and adults can explore freely and safely. They divided and conquered, with each group working together on different tasks to refresh the large area of greenery.

Abbie, from The RiskSTOP Group, said, “At RiskSTOP Group, we’ve been partnering with Autism Unlimited for a while. We’ve been helping out at the school, doing mock interviews, so any other opportunity to volunteer, help out, and do our bit for an amazing charity, we’re definitely up for it.”

The outdoors brings so many benefits for well-being, supporting emotional regulation and sensory enrichment, and offering a chance to learn and explore in a natural setting. Not only can it help to reduce stress and anxiety, but it also provides a supportive space to gain new skills and real-world experience.

Charlotte, a volunteer from Nationwide, added, “It’s hard work, but so rewarding. It’s such an amazing space and I can see such benefits that it will bring to the kids. It’s just nice that we can be a small part of it.”

The volunteers moved quickly and efficiently, pruning plants and clearing rubbish, and as soon as we knew it, the space was well on its way to becoming a useable, safe and welcoming environment for learning and sensory regulation.

Although it was a long day of physical work, seeing the impact of their labour and the difference it had made was rewarding and they were proud to see the final result, leaving with the knowledge that they took part in something that will benefit so many people for years to come.

Abbie continued, “It’s been really good, it’s been nice to get away from the desk and be outside for a bit. I’ve really enjoyed myself.”

David and John from Nationwide, agreed, “It’s nice to get away from the laptop for a while and do something physical for a change where you actually see the end product of what we do.”

It was a successful day of hard work and we can’t thank our volunteers enough for their efforts in clearing the space and preparing it for our community. What started as an overgrown, unusable patch, is now so much closer to becoming a vibrant centre for learning beyond the classroom.