THAME and District Rotary’s Business in the Community Scheme which involves volunteers from local businesses joining employees from other companies and undertaking community projects, is under way for 2019.
Enthusiastic volunteer decorators at Thomley – Photo by John Singer
The scheme was initiated last year when Kubota Ltd, Lightfoots Solicitors, Lucy Electric Ltd, The Oxfordshire Golf Hotel and Spa, Richardsons Chartered Accountants and Waitrose all agreed to participate. This year all these companies have agreed to participate once again. Additionally, Farol Ltd and Le Manoir joined the scheme this year.
The first project undertaken was at Thame Citizens Advice offices when its two reception rooms and an office were redecorated. The work was undertaken by an energetic team of eight employees from Farol Ltd, Lightfoot’s Solicitors, The Oxfordshire Golf Hotel and Spa, and Waitrose. This included preparation, emulsion painting of the walls and ceilings and gloss painting the wood work.
Liz Johnson, Manager Thame Citizens Advice, said: “We would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to the Rotary Club of Thame and the volunteers from local businesses who worked so hard on this project. They have transformed the reception areas and one of the client meeting rooms to make them bright, clean and welcoming for our visitors and for the volunteers who work here. We were delighted to be able to benefit from this initiative which enabled us to greatly improve our public areas without diverting funds away from client facing services.”
Ali Anning, HR Business Partner, Farol Ltd said “Farol are thrilled to have joined the ‘Business in the Community’ initiative this year – it is great to be involved in such a scheme. Our first volunteers really enjoyed the days they spent on their projects and we look forward to helping again soon.”
The second project was undertaken at Thomley, when another team of enthusiastic volunteers from Farol Ltd, Le Manoir, Lightfoots Solicitors, Richardsons Chartered Accountants, and Waitrose carried out work on the reception areas and offices. This also included preparation of walls and ceilings, emulsion painting and gloss painting of the woodwork.
Denise Kemp spent a day at Thomley. She said: “I was pleased to be able to help out as part of the volunteer programme by The Rotary Club. The facilities at Thomley are really fantastic and it was great to learn more about what they do. I was part of the team that helped in the decorating of some of the offices and general areas, the other volunteers were a great bunch of people and although we worked hard to get the job finished, we had a great day. It really was an absolute pleasure to have helped those that do so much.”
Jackie Slocombe, HR & L&D Manager added: “At Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, we have established important values that all of our employees aspire to on a daily basis, including Care, Confidence, Curiosity and Community. It is therefore important to us that we establish positive connections with our communities and give back what we can, when we can.
“The Rotary Club has given us an incredible opportunity to truly live out these values, and it enables our employees to take some time away from their busy working lives and make a difference in a very special way. We look forward to a continued partnership with The Rotary Club and our local communities.
“The financial value of these first two projects is estimated at approximately £3,000. The Rotary Club of Thame and District and the participating companies are extremely grateful to generosity of Brewers in Aylesbury for donating all of the paint materials and equipment required for the work in Citizens Advice and Thomley.”
John Singer of Thame and District Rotary added: “The programme seems to have appealed again to companies and employees alike and it’s clearly benefitting the community. The local businesses have been most generous by allowing their employees to participate in the scheme. I have found it remarkable how enthusiastic the volunteers have been to support this community work.”
John concluded:” This is another example of how Rotary and Businesses, working together, can make things happen and we intend that this will be a regular event.”
To find out on how to get involved with Rotary Club of Thame & District projects or to join the club, visitwww.thame.rotary1090.org and www.facebook.com/thamerotary
