Volunteering down on the Farm

Our annual volunteering day took place in July this year. It’s always a popular event and this year was no exception. Our enthusiastic team tooled-up with paint brushes ready to help redecorate the shop at Brandon Trust’s Elm Tree Farm.

Elm Tree Farm is a fully working farm that provides support for around eighty people with learning disabilities and autism. With over 37 acres, the farm breeds livestock, including rare breeds, as well as growing a variety of produce that it sells both at its shop on-site and via its veg box scheme.

Charities and non-profit organisations like Brandon Trust are in constant need of extra support and they are really appreciative of the enthusiasm, skills and energy volunteers provide. But, it’s not only the charity that benefits from this activity, volunteering also has a really positive impact on the people who take part.

“It feels good to do good,” says Lucy Thomson, Marketing Manager at Silvey Fleet. “Our team comes away from the volunteering day tired, but also really proud of what they’ve achieved. So, as well as being really useful for the farm, the day is like a little team-building exercise. Everyone is doing something very different from their usual office role and we work together to get the job completed.”

Louisa James of Elm Tree Farm said, “This is the fifth year Silvey Fleet has volunteered at the farm and it’s been a real pleasure to have them here again. This year we asked them to help paint the shop building, giving it a fresher look for the visitors and now it looks great.”

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