Getting stuck in and making a difference: Futures Engagement Team visits Stonebridge City Farm

Our Volunteering programme at Futures gives staff one working day per year to make a positive impact on their local community. This year we’ve volunteered with Nottingham Hospitals Charity, IP17 GNS, local churches and many more. 

So, on International Volunteering Day, we thought it would be perfect to share Future’s most recent visit to Nottingham’s Stonebridge City Farm.

A small-scale urban Farm in the centre of St. Anns, built on top of a school grounds footprint that was originally planned to be built there. The farm supports over 150 volunteers each week, creating opportunities for a diverse group of volunteers, many with learning difficulties and mental health challenges.  

Our Futures Engagement Team spent the day getting their hands dirty, cleaning out the barn ready for its fresh coat of paint, learning about the positive impact Stonebridge has on the community and getting to know some of the farm's regular volunteers. 

The team got stuck in with cleaning and scrubbing the barn, home to a range of animals including Rabbits, Guinea pigs, horses, Tortoise and many more. This would allow Stonebridge to give the barn a winter makeover to help freshen up the building with a new lick of paint.  

Working hard and keeping warm - a great snapshot of the team taking a quick break from their afternoon of barn cleaning.  

It’s a great feeling knowing you’re making a difference, Phillippa Marks, Futures Service Manager for Engagement, reflected on the day at Stonebridge

"We thoroughly enjoyed the day and were made to feel very welcome, it was a pleasure to support our local community charity and recognise the value of social responsibility."

Volunteering days are also a perfect time to bond as a team and boost morale. It gives our staff time to work towards goals outside of the business to make a positive impact. 

"We had such a fun day at Stonebridge - it was great to do something different and spend time with the team while supporting a local charity and making a genuine difference in our community. Sign me up for Round 2!" - Madeleine Seeley, Senior Recruitment Executive

There were plenty of smiles all around at Stonebridge, no matter how muddy they got! 

We are proud of all the teams that have spent time this year to make a difference and can't wait to hear about more amazing days just like this one. 

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