Giving something back

As I sit down and write this blog entry I have to admit I’m aching a bit, I’ve got a few blisters and, I have to say – I feel great!

Today I’ve not been ‘Lesley Roberts, Chief Executive of Wolverhampton Homes’ – I’ve been ‘Lesley, getting my hands dirty (literally!) and mucking in’ to help bring a piece of overgrown waste land back to life as a wonderful community garden.

Later this month, we’re going to be officially opening a brand new community garden and play area at Poet’s Corner in Fordhouses. It’ll bring to a wonderful close a project which we kick-started last year.

Last year, some colleagues brought to me an idea which they said would help the company give something back to the community. It really got me thinking. I came into social housing many years ago to do just that – make a difference and give something back. And when I speak to colleagues and ask them what motivates them, time after time I hear the same answers – ‘I want to make a difference’ and ‘I want to give something back’.

Sue Roberts MBE, Chair of our Board and two of the team before we started work

We’re one of the biggest employers in Wolverhampton with just over 700 members of staff, responsible for more than 23,000 homes across the city. We’ve got a responsibility to leave a legacy for future generations. That’s why we’re involved with really exciting apprenticeship programmes – and that’s why we’ve embarked on this Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project.

Poet’s Corner is about more than just the day job. It’s a project thought up by staff at Wolverhampton Homes and built by staff at Wolverhampton Homes. And when I say built by staff – I can vouch for that – I’ve just spent seven hours planting shrubs and moving concrete slabs!

I’ve seen the photos of what the site looked like before we started - and it, if I’m honest, it was grim; overgrown grass and weeds, needles, a hive of anti-social behaviour and blot on the scenery which residents had to live next to. So when I arrived this morning (hard hat, high-vis jacket and steel toe-cap boots aren’t my normal attire!) I was taken aback by how remarkable the site now looks.

Now things are really starting to take shape...

Over the past few months more than 80 members of staff have volunteered to be part of the project. It’s been wonderful to see colleagues from across the company working together, some of them having never met each other before. From housing managers to brick layers, from the Director of Finance to plasterers, from the Chief Executive to customer service advisers – we’ve all mucked in and the fruits of our labours are nearly there for all to see.

So not only can you literally feel the beaming pride amongst everyone who’s been involved, but with some hard work, some determination and some exceptionally talented people, Wolverhampton Homes has helped give something back. We’ve made a difference – and there’s something quite humbling about that.

We're a happy bunch...and we even managed to build a pirate ship out of some left over timber

In spite of the blisters and the aching back I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved at Poet’s Corner. It’s the first time we’ve done a CSR project like this and will it be our last? You bet it won’t.

I have to finish by thanking all of the staff who have helped make this project a reality, the contractors who have kindly donated materials and, of course, the local residents who have welcomed us so warmly over the past few months and some of whom have even been out helping us along the way too!