This month, our colleagues from Tokio Marine HCC International’s Leicester office got their hands dirty for a good cause, volunteering with Creative Support who are a non-profit organisation. Creative Support provides services for people with learning disabilities, mental health issues, older people with care needs and those with physical disabilities. By listening to the people they support, their families and partner agencies, they can provide the best care possible that meets their needs.
The scheme provided by Orchard House empowers adults with disabilities by giving them the opportunity to develop their independent living skills and self-confidence while living with others in an environment that’s safe and supportive. Most residents live there for around two years, before spreading their wings and going on to live independently.
To support their ongoing work some of our green-fingered colleagues from our Leicester office were tasked with transforming the garden of a local Orchard House residence, so the residents could enjoy the outdoor space and grow their own produce. Our volunteers planted new flowers and vegetables as well as tidying up the overall presentation. We hope the improvements made to the garden will bring joy to the residents and make this space more accessible to them. Joanne Hook, Volunteering and Activities Development Officer at Creative Support said, "Thank you to all of the volunteers who joined us. They did a fantastic job and worked so hard on the weeding and planting and the garden looked lovely.”
Gardening is believed to be great for our mental health and wellbeing, reducing problems like stress, anxiety and depression. It also brings joy through responsibility and a sense of purpose, plus it’s always rewarding seeing the results of our care and hard work come into fruition. Volunteering is always a rewarding experience for everyone, offering us the chance to give back to the community and make a meaningful difference.
This project with Creative Support is one of the many volunteering opportunities that employees at Tokio Marine HCC International can get involved in. Employees are entitled to two volunteering days of paid leave per year as part of our Charity programme.
To read more about our Charity programme click here.