HEY Smile Foundation recently facilitated a successful employee volunteering day for Arco, connecting them with North Ferriby Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA). This case study highlights the positive impact of corporate volunteering and the value of community partnerships.
The Opportunity
As Smile365 Plus members, Arco employees have the chance to give back to their local community through employee volunteering opportunities brokered by HEY Smile Foundation. On 10 October 2024, a team from Arco spent the day volunteering at North Ferriby RDA, a charity that provides therapeutic riding and equine activities for people with disabilities.
The Experience
With ongoing maintenance needs at North Ferriby RDA, the charity welcomes help from local businesses and Arco employees came together from various departments to support this worthy cause. The volunteers worked on essential maintenance tasks, including painting buildings and shelters. Their efforts not only improved the appearance of the facilities but also helped weatherproof the structures, potentially saving the charity money in the long run.
An Arco representative shared their experience:
“Colleagues from Arco had a fantastic day at North Ferriby RDA. Supporting this incredible organisation was very rewarding to the team in many ways. Not only did they get to give back to their local community but having done this in the wonderful setting alongside donkeys, ponies, and alpacas made the day even more special.
“It was fantastic that multiple teams came together for this experience allowing individuals to interact who wouldn’t normally come across each other which really strengthened the team bonding of the day.”
The Impact
The volunteering day had a significant positive impact on North Ferriby RDA. A representative from the charity expressed their gratitude:
“We had a fantastic day yesterday, thank you so mucho HEY Smile Foundation for introducing us to Arco and helping to facilitate. Honestly what a super team! Such lovely people and we can’t believe how much they achieved in such a short space of time.
“As a completely volunteer run charity we often struggle to get big jobs like the painting of buildings and shelters done. The extra manpower has been an incredible help to us, and not only left our facilities looking neat and tidy but leaving our buildings more weather ready, therefore lasting longer so saving us financially in the grand scheme of things too.”
Additional Benefits
Beyond the immediate improvements to the facilities, the volunteering day provided other valuable outcomes:
- Increased awareness: Arco employees learned about the wide range of services offered by North Ferriby RDA.
- Potential long-term volunteers: One Arco employee expressed interest in continuing to volunteer with the charity.
- Team building: The day allowed Arco employees from different departments to work together, strengthening internal relationships.
The Role of HEY Smile Foundation
HEY Smile Foundation played a crucial role in facilitating this successful volunteering day. The Arco representative noted:
“Smile made it really simple to organise this opportunity, from sending across a brief to consistent contact in the lead up to the day everything was planned seamlessly.”
Through these partnerships, companies like Arco can make a meaningful difference in their communities while also benefiting from team-building experiences and increased employee engagement.
Corporate volunteering has a powerful and lasting impact both on the volunteers and the recipients. HEY Smile Foundation can connect businesses with local charities across the Humber Region. To find out how your organisation can get involved, please email tw@heysmilefoundation.org.