Member Article

Echo digs deep to help Acorns Children’s Hospice

Staff from Echo Managed Services have taken time out of their working day to create a new sensory garden for Acorns Children’s Hospice as part of the company’s new corporate social responsibility initiative.

The team of eight volunteers from the outsourced utilities customer engagement specialist transformed the garden at the charity’s Black Country hospice, based in Walsall, into a stimulating outdoor area for both children and their families to enjoy.

This involved planting several vibrant flowerbeds and painting the garden’s fences in bright shades to help inject a new lease of life into the space.

Echo launched its new employee volunteering scheme to give staff the opportunity to support local charities and give back to those organisations making a positive impact in the community.

Given Acorns vital work caring for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions, and following a vote by staff on which charities they’d like to support, Echo decided Acorns would be the first charity to benefit from the initiative and kick start the new employee volunteering scheme.

Following the success of the first volunteering day, Echo is now planning to help other charities in the Walsall area, such as Mind UK. Staff will be able to spend up to two fully paid days a year to help out with similar projects.

Anna Fell, director of people and development at Echo Managed Services, said: “Everyone here at Echo feels very passionately about supporting our local charities as we all recognise what an amazing job they do in our community.

“After a hard day’s work at Acorns, the hospice’s garden looked totally transformed and seeing the children enjoying the new space has made it all worthwhile. The project was extremely rewarding and has encouraged more of our staff to offer their help for our next charity project.

“Schemes like this are extremely beneficial, not only for the charities receiving the support but also for the businesses and their employees involved as it’s great for team building and boosting morale.”

Acorns Volunteers Manager Carl Cadman said: “Everyone here at the Black Country hospice was delighted by the generosity and hard work Echo’s team put into the garden’s makeover.

“It’s important that the children staying at the hospice have the most enjoyable time possible And while we rely heavily on fundraising and donations to help us continue providing our vital care and support services, we value volunteering efforts like this just as much.”

In the past year, Acorns has provided care for more than 870 children and over 1,140 families across the region, including those who are bereaved.

To find out how you can support Acorns, please visit www.acorns.org.uk/30things

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Holly Greening .