Employee Challenges

Employee Challenges are a great way to get things done. Many companies want a team building day with a difference and look for a practical task that makes a difference and benefits the local community. The employees taking part in the tasks get the chance to use practical skills and by working together as a team they achieve the challenge presented to them.

During Volunteers Week in June this year we ran our first employee challenge which was to turn a front garden into a drive way for Ryan, one of the people we support at Quarriers Bank Street Service.

Employees from National Semiconductor, a leading provider of analogue systems-on-a chip based in Greenock, rose to the challenge and completed Ryan’s driveway. The employees taking part said the following.

"It was great to take some time out of work to do something completely different and at the same time make a real difference to somebody else's life" (David Fallon NSUK)

“A very worthwhile and personally satisfying challenge. It was great to work with the Quarriers staff and know that your efforts would make a positive difference to someone who really needs community support. I would recommend anyone to get involved in this type of endeavour whatever way they can”.

“The challenge was enjoyable as it gave a cross-section of our employees a common task. We organised ourselves and worked with the folks there in a good humoured environment, in a situation we would not encounter in our normal working practice. There was a definite accent on the fun part and a great sense of achievement on completing a task where the benefit is seen immediately. I'd recommend it to anyone who is considering taking part”.

John Bruce (Project Worker at Bank Street) said:
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard about the employee challenge as we were desperate to get the garden changed into a driveway for Ryan. I was kept informed every step of the way, which makes a big difference, and I am so glad Ryan’s life and I would like to thank all the volunteers who were involved and everyone else who helped us in this venture”.

Ryan’s dad, Ron said: “It is fantastic and will make a real difference to his life. It can be difficult for him getting from the house to the car”

The second challenge was thrown down by Quarriers Stopover Project in Glasgow. 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!”.

Many companies value the benefits of volunteering at Quarriers

• Linking with Scotland’s most unique social care charity
• Strengthening community reputation through corporate social responsibility
• Improving staff awareness of social issues through employee challenges, volunteering and fundraising
• Providing personal development, leadership and team building skills for staff
• An opportunity to give something back to the community

The following are some challenges that organisations have undertaken:

• Painting/decorating rooms
• Painting indoor/outdoor murals for children’s projects
• Redesigning gardens and play areas
• Laying decking – with professional help