Businesses gain inspiration from Minstead Trust

October 2019

Minstead Trust is fostering strong ongoing relationships with local businesses through its life-affirming and unique corporate volunteering days.

Minstead Trust is receiving support from a wide range of local businesses keen to support the learning disability charity, including through its inspiring volunteering sessions.

Many businesses have begun their support for the Trust through a day at its bases at Minstead Lodge and Furzey Gardens in the north of the New Forest throughout 2019.

Corporate volunteering groups of up to 20 volunteers join people with learning disabilities to take on practical tasks that take them out of the office and give them a fresh perspective. Tasks include animal care, garden maintenance and woodwork.

Minstead Trust supports more than 200 people with learning disabilities to develop skills that allow them to gain greater independence and lead fulfilled lives.

The latest company to enjoy a day in the inspirational surroundings of Minstead Lodge are Day Associates, an experienced building surveying and construction consultancy providing expert advice and surveying services across the South of England and Central London.

Day Associates’ partnership with Minstead Trust has so far involved the purchase of a leaf blower and major sponsorship of the charity’s spring ball in May. They follow companies such as HSBC, Ramboll UK and Barton Willmore in being inspired by their volunteering days to go on to support the Trust in other ways.

Kevin Day, Surveying Director and Co-Owner of Day Associates, said: ‘This has been a great team building day for us where we really feel we have put something back into the community. We’ve tried our hand at woodwork, making fairy doors, walking the horse and donkeys and even mucking out the goats! It has been a real experience.’

‘You get such a sense of achievement joining in with the people supported by Minstead Trust, seeing them enjoying their day – we even took part in a cricket match with them. Minstead Lodge really is a life-affirming place. We are looking forward to doing a few more of these days with the Trust as well as linking up with them for their spring charity ball.’

Corporate volunteering days with Minstead Trust are tailored to each business’ individual needs and all profits from the day helps people with learning disabilities live more independent and fulfilled lives.

For more on corporate volunteering with Minstead Trust visit www.minsteadtrust.org.uk/corporate-volunteering