Corporate Day at Westcourt: Teamwork, Sunshine and Wheelbarrows

Last Tuesday saw a fantastic burst of energy and community spirit at Westcourt’s Living and Growing Gardens, thanks to a special corporate volunteering day organised by Camphill Initiatives for Social Ecology (CISE), in collaboration with IFAC and our local partners.

The sun was shining, the wheelbarrows were rolling, and around 20 people came together to help build accessible pathways into the training polytunnel and garden areas. The goal was to support inclusive job-readiness training and create meaningful pathways to employment.

This hands-on day wasn’t just about shifting chippings and bark mulch; it was about planting seeds of opportunity. 

Living and Growing is more than just a garden and nursery; it’s a hub for growth, both personal and practical, where people of all abilities come together to raise plants and build friendships.

CISE’s work, inspired by the Asset-Based Community Development model, aims to remove barriers to employment and create participant-led initiatives that make a real difference. The partnership with Westcourt Gardens is already bearing fruit, with more opportunities emerging for supported placements and social enterprise.

A huge shoutout to the IFAC team, who swapped spreadsheets for spades and embraced the spirit of the day with open arms (and muddy hands). It was a brilliant example of corporate citizenship in action and proof that when community and business come together, great things happen.

Thanks to everyone who made it such a memorable day – here’s to many more!

A Big Thankyou from us all at CISE and Westcourt