Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Case Study

Introduction

Nottingham-based events provider Off Limits Event Professionals and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles teamed up to improve the Amber Valley Borough Council Park on Wednesday 20th July. Off Limits tailored their Changing Rooms event to the space and the project with the goal of contributing employee time and resources to refresh a popular public space and benefit the local community. The Alfreton Park project is a great example of corporate social investment and responsibility. This event illustrates how team building can be an incredibly rewarding experience that promotes social and environmental wellbeing as well as core business aims and activities. It's about seeing the company as part of the wider community, rather than as an anonymous, separate entity.

The Brief

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles wanted to do a charity event with a difference and to give something back to local the community.

Changing Rooms was the obvious choice. It's a unique, challenging and very hands-on event that develops business skills like communication, team work, project management, time management, and problem solving while literally adding value to the local community by improving a public area.

Event organiser Jess Stokes commented: “I thought Changing Rooms would be perfect as the project adds value to the local community and is rewarding for Volkswagen employees. We are grateful to Amber Valley Council for allowing Volkswagen to get involved with the project.

Park Life/Park Lives

Fifteen employees from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and an events manager and team from Off Limits performed a whole host of tasks throughout the day, including painting the changing rooms, maintaining the bowling green, tending to flower beds, maintaining play equipment, re-laying flooring and removing graffiti from the park, which involved a lot of hard graft! The whole team managed to achieve much more than they initially thought despite the temperature hitting a sweltering 28 degrees. 

The Mayor of Alfreton, Councillor Mary Kerry, and four local councillors attended the Changing Rooms event to see the results and cut the ribbon at the grand unveiling. They met with the Volkswagen team and walked around with Service Development Manager from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles David Bodily to see the improvements for themselves – they were amazed by the results. The day ended with a celebratory tea party and a bouncy castle for the local children.

Testimonials

David Bodily, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Service Development Manager, commented: “Today is about team work, high reward and having fun. I'm pleased how we've come together as a team and achieved so much, and we've made a real difference to the area. Our organisation really supports volunteer-type days and giving back to the local community”

Richard Miller, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, remarked: “We're in local Derbyshire playground and making it look better for local kids, it was good fun with plenty of graft!”

Mary Kerry, Councillor of Alfreton Derbyshire, said: “It's about giving something back to Alfreton, the children, and the wider community. It's amazing how they're giving back as well as team building. It's much improved and thank you from everyone in Alfreton.”