The Big Help Out 2024

This year, all of Ategi's offices were excited to get involved with the nationwide volunteering event, the "Big Help Out", held from 7th to 9th June. It's a nationwide wide campaign to encourage and raise awareness of volunteering across the UK and make a difference in communities.

In a spirited display of community engagement, the Ategi teams in Wales, South Gloucestershire and Buckinghamshire all chose different gardening projects for their volunteering efforts.

The Wales office took on the challenge of turning the space outside the Ategi head office into a green paradise! Tesco were an incredible help in supporting the project as they donated planters, pots, compost, plants and food. Tesco's community champion, Sharon, even came along to join the day and bring the goods donated by Tesco, you can watch a video she made about the event here. Several of our team have kindly donated items and some of the people we support came along to help out!

In South Gloucestershire, the team supported local charity PROPS in their allotment in Fishponds, Bristol. PROPS are a local charity that empower adults who have learning disabilities to achieve purposeful and rewarding work opportunities. The Ategi team were asked to cut back a Bramble bush, level out a flower bed and clear another bed of an over growing Rosemary plant!

Our Bucks team worked with the Missenden Walled Garden Charity which is based within the grounds of Missenden Abbey, they provide day support for people with disabilities or mental health issues. The Bucks team enjoyed re-potting plants and learnt a lot from the supported people about how different plants grow best in different places. We were also lucky enough to join in with celebrating the more regular volunteers at the garden. We also moved A LOT of compost and sifted it through into a new raised flower bed ready for new plants to be planted by the people supported there.

We were really keen to take part in the Big Help Out this year because volunteering, particularly in green spaces, is a brilliant initiative to encourage among staff as it fosters a sense of community, environmental stewardship, and personal well-being. Engaging in activities such as gardening and not only enhances the beauty and health of these spaces but also provides a refreshing break for our staff, reducing stress and boosting morale. We even had some of the incredible people we support who came along to help us. This hand-on work cultivates teamwork, improves mental health through connection with nature and helps us build our community with our staff and the people we support.

A special thanks goes out to Ategi staff members Martine, Sheleagh, Karen, to all the people we support who got involved and everyone whose efforts made this day a success. Their dedication and hard work were instrumental in bringing this day to life. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to Tesco for their incredible community spirit and generosity.