Rolling stock company Porterbrook is encouraging its employees to take on volunteer work as part of an initiative which sees colleagues provided with two days for volunteer leave each year should they wish to do so.
The company policy aims to inspire employees to become change agents with their skills able to impact communities positively and has so far seen 274 hours volunteered.
Staff members making use of the volunteer days are also entered into a prize draw which could see £500 donated to their charity of choice.
Porterbrook has seen an array of volunteer projects supported from local nature reserves to STEM projects.
This July, five team members volunteered at the impressive Bennerley Viaduct for a project which saw information boards installed. The team also have a further volunteering day planned this month.
Mike Wheatcroft, who volunteered on the day, said:
“I found the whole experience really rewarding, as the information boards will remain at the viaduct for years to come. They’re a permanent addition that makes the viaduct more appealing to visitors, and it’s a nice feeling to know that Tony, Andy, Shaun, Callum and I all contributed to that”
Another group of Porterbrook volunteers worked with the Shine County Camp in Matlock, Derbyshire, to support Girl-guiding. The team engaged with the girls with activities such as inventing trains with no limitations and saw some fantastic ingenuity, including a train powered by pizza ovens and carriages doubling up as ball pits!
This special event aimed to inspire children to look at STEM and also saw teams from Network Rail, Volker Rail, Rail Delivery Group and British Transport Police taking part. Activities at the event saw paper planes, helicopters and gliders demonstrate air resistance and gravity, which are vital elements when it comes to running trains safely and efficiently.
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