Earlier this year Leeds Building Society embarked upon a new formal volunteering initiative, ‘Lending a Hand’, that allows everyone to use a day each year to help in the community.

This summer many Leeds Building Society colleagues have been ‘lending a hand’ within their community, including a group of six at Hollybank Trust in Mirfield. Hollybank Trust gives high quality care to around 100 severely disabled children, young people and adults. This includes a special school, high quality supported accommodation, extensive therapy, nursing support, art, music and engaging activities.

On the day the team from Leeds Building Society were tasked with clearing a piece of land to plant up a wildflower meadow. They worked as a team through digging, raking the ground and removing all stones so that the area was clear for them to plant the seeds. They also had a full tour of the facilities and watched a DVD which showed the high quality care that Hollybank Trust provides to the people who are there.

One of the six who attended was Mandy Haxby from the Society’s Sales Support team. She said: “It was great to be an ambassador of the Volunteering Committee and Society and be able to have this opportunity. It was fantastic to work with a team of people who would not normally be together, forming a bond and working really well together.

“The volunteering is an excellent opportunity for all colleagues and personally I got so much from the day and will definitely be going back to help again.”

Tracey Gibson, corporate support officer at Hollybank Trust, said: “Hollybank has extensive grounds to maintain and we like to keep them as beautiful as possible for all our residents to enjoy.

“We are indebted to the staff from Leeds Building Society who gave up their time and talents to help prepare the wildflower meadow and would like to thank them for their continued support.”