We hosted our annual “Big Day Out” on Tuesday 1st August 2023, with hundreds of colleagues out at 25 locations across Yorkshire participating in various community activities and initiatives. It was our biggest one yet!
It was a day filled with enthusiasm and compassion as our colleagues came together to make a positive impact on local communities in various Yorkshire regions. The event, which featured a range of activities designed to benefit the neighbourhoods, was a huge success!
Colleagues in West Yorkshire put on a big celebration at Salisbury Road in Keighley. The event, held from 11am to 2 pm, featured inflatables, an ice-cream van (which gave out over 180 free ice creams to customers) games, a raffle, a bake sale food, and music. We were also able to raise vital funds for our charity of the year, Andy's Man Club. And, it wasn't just our team that made it a big success; we were joined by partners and local charities, including Roshni Ghar, Keighley Healthy Living, Age UK and West Yorkshire police officers.
Head of Place Jo Griffin was there and said:
"We had a lot going on in Keighley with lots of people coming out to see us and talk to us. It was great to see all the children and adults enjoying the activities we put on.
"Days like The Big Day Out are so important as we get to interact with our customers and give back to the communities we serve. It was a fantastic day! Thank you to everyone who was involved!"
In North Yorkshire, the Ingsgarth Community Centre in Pickering was super busy from 12pm to 3 pm. The team raised vital funds for our charity of the year, Andy's Man Club. Those who came to see us said they had a brilliant time with stalls, games, yummy food and a raffle. Meanwhile, our colleagues were also busy in Craven, Harrogate, and Ryedale, taking part in different initiatives to support the local communities there.
South Yorkshire was lively with activity as well. Our colleagues visited customers living in retirement schemes, hosting a drop-in café where they could have a friendly chat and enjoy each other's company. Additionally, they took to the streets of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield, engaging in litter picking and gardening to keep the areas clean and beautiful.
But that wasn't all; our colleagues showed off their handy skills in Bradford, Wakefield, Calderdale, Kirklees, and Leeds. They set up new bin stores, refreshed communal living spaces with paintings, installed outdoor benches, and got stuck in with general litter picking, leaving a positive impact on the communities they served.
Our Chief Executive, Nick Atkin, summed up the day's events:
"It was truly inspiring to see hundreds of our colleagues coming together with such passion and dedication to make a positive difference in the communities we serve.
"Their hard work and commitment showcase the core values of our organisation, and I couldn't be prouder of the impact we've made today.
"I'm confident that our continued efforts will foster even stronger bonds with the local communities across Yorkshire."