Ernst & Young Employee Challenge

Stopover provides crisis accommodation for 16-25 year old homeless people. They were desperate for their garden to be made over as it had become very overgrown and required some much needed clearing out and labour for one day. The project staff also wanted the challenge to be the start of engaging with the residents to try and promote positives of garden and benefits of gardening.

The aim was that after the employee challenge to recruit a volunteer gardener to support the residents in the upkeep of the garden.

Eighteen staff from Ernst & Young undertook the challenge in one day. This is what Brian McMenemy (Depute Project Manager at Stopover) had to say:

“The communication between the Volunteer Co-ordinator and me was of a very high standard. I still can’t believe how easy the whole process and planning was. Having spent months worrying about this project, then you came along and informed us of the challenge. The site visit was extremely beneficial. I can’t speak highly enough of the whole process from start to end”.

The following are comments from the volunteers taking part:

“Really hard work but very rewarding”. (Natalie McDermid) “Sense that making a difference”. (John Daly). “Very challenging but good fun” (Dianne Reid). “An eye opening experience”. (Stewart Wallace), “I enjoyed the experience and getting a tan in Scotland”. (Richard McCorkell). “A good workout in the sun”. (Jenna Ross). “Hard work but fun and rewarding I am so glad I got the opportunity to take part”. (Judith Herbert).

The staff and residents at the project had this to say: - “100% IMPROVEMENT”, “Nicer place to live”, “Very therapeutic”, “Future educational involvement for our young people”, “volunteers done a very good job, much better view from our windows”, “fantastic job in a very short period of time” “Thank you so much for all your help the garden looks great!”.