Team building
Teamworking skills frequently feature highly on the selection criteria for job applicants. A strength in this area:
- Encourages efficient working practices
- Can increase motivation and commitment
- Can improve working atmospheres
With businesses eager to experience these opportunities, team building activities are rapidly replacing the more traditional awaydays, and have been recognised as an excellent way of:
- Developing team spirit
- Improving communication and relationships between employees;
- Exploring new skills and uncovering talent;
- Making a meaningful contribution to the community.
Volunteer Centres and Business in the Community are well positionned to:
- match companies and community projects for team building activities;
- identify needs within voluntary sector organisations and consequent opportunities;
- offer experience and advice around team building activities.
Case study: HSBC Bank and Iain Rennie Hospice
With the support of the local volunteer centre, Sally Keane from HSBC Bank in Hemel Hempstead led a team of volunteers to refurbish the Iain Rennie Hospice Shop on the edge of the town. They painted the walls, installed new laminated flooring, raised ?283 for new shop signage and collected clothing for the shop to sell.
Even though HSBC are a global business they say ?We are currently focusing our support towards smaller, more local charities where we can have a major impact on the valuable work they do?
Case study: Vocalink and Watford General Hospital
The Starfish Ward, at Watford General Hospital, provides for children needing one or more overnight stays at the hospital. Vocalink, the payments company, based in Rickmansworth transformed the adolescent room in the hospital's Starfish Ward. In addition, Vocalink also decorated throughout the ward using stick-on marine pictures to complement the starfish theme. Vocalink staff commissioned a series of specially designed murals of sea creatures, including turtles, jellyfish, octopus and seahorses in the baby cubicles and a fantastic starfish mural in the reception area.
Anne-Marie Kesselman, from Vocalink, said: "This has been an important part of the corporate social responsibility programme at Vocalink. Our work on Starfish Ward was made possible through a combination of Vocalink staff fundraising and volunteering time. Our hope is that it will make a lasting and positive difference for children and their carers during their time in hospital."
Caroline Dilks, Matron for Starfish Ward said: "The murals are really wonderful and both children and visitors comment on them when in the ward. Their hard work and thoughtfulness have really created a special ambience on the ward."
This project has been a great success. In addition, Vocalink has agreed to provide training support for equipment in the adolescent room as well as design, print and donate special bravery certificates for ward staff to give to children following their stay in hospital.
The project has been communicated to Vocalink staff in presentations via the company's intranet and has received coverage in the local press.
Case study: Cadbury Schweppes and the Three Rivers Gardening Project
23 executives and their line managers spent a day clearing a site for an allotment to be used for training people from all sectors of the community but particularly those with learning disabilities. The work involved enclosing the land, removing weeds, building raised beds and covering footpaths with wood chipping.
Cadbury Schweppes covered the cost of materials and organised lunch, shade (a gazebo) and on-site toilets. Feedback on the day was very positive. The employees spend much of their time out of country and seldom meet as a team together. As well as satisfying the Cadbury Schweppes ethos of supporting the community, they also benefited from a strong team building event.
Team Building Toolkit
