A week or so ago, we carried out our first #CovidFriendly Team Challenge. Seven of our own staff took part and had an enjoyable day. During the lockdown, the garden at Gorse Covert Community Centre in Loughborough became very overgrown. The trustees of the charity who run the site were concerned that their plans to reopen the centre would be made more difficult by the high maintenance of the garden. Normally, around 3,000 local people use the centre and outside space yearly and this includes 50 groups and community organisations who meet regularly and use the great facilities. Plans were hatched between us to clear part of the garden, lay some weed suppressing membrane and install a flower box. See our fabulous photos showing the work that was achieved in just a few hours by our staff, several of whom had not done any work like that before. A massive well done to all who took part.
Thank you so much for all your time and energy revamping the section of garden yesterday- it was great to have you here.
Sue Castleton, Gorse Covert Centre Manager
Thanks so much for the Team Challenge day at Gorse Covert Community Centre, I had a great day. It was brilliant to work as a team. Together we managed to clear a big section of garden and make a new raised flower bed. Social distancing was easily observed outside and we even found an Elephant moth caterpillar.
Fiona Spence-Arnold, Project Support Officer – Education and Training for the YES (LeicesterShire) Project
Our Member Firms are, of course, uncertain whether Team Challenges can be carried out in a Covid-safe way. By doing a Challenge day ourselves, we hoped to iron out some of the concerns we all have about visiting a community building or nature area during this continuing pandemic. The Risk Assessment (done for every Challenge) included a number of Covid related hazards and control measures and everyone was made aware of the new ways to work. The Team Leader made sure everyone remembered to do the tasks in a socially distanced way where possible and no one attended the day who was feeling poorly in any way. We had access to sanitiser, masks, gloves and wipes. Entering the building to access facilities was done in accordance with the Community Centres Covid Plan. We brought some of our own gardening equipment or wiped down those we borrowed. Lunch was a prepacked deal from a local supermarket, although some brought their own. We travelled separately where possible or wore masks when car sharing.
All in all, these small changes were not a problem to build-in to our plans. Covid-safe behaviour has become the norm at home, in our offices and places where we shop or take part in hobbies and exercise. We can use them to keep safe whilst still giving back to the community through our employee volunteering program, Team Challenges. Come and join in, our community still needs us! Contact us at: TeamChallenges@leicestershirecares.co.uk
