Background

Members of our Whitehaven staff dedicated a full day of gardening services at The Pencil Factory, Keswick Ministries’ urban outreach hub.

Having been a valued client of Baker Mallett for a decade, we wanted to demonstrate our support for this long-standing client, by assisting them in preparing for their annual event, the Keswick Convention.

By contributing our time, we aimed to transform the outdoor space into a welcoming green environment for the staff, volunteers, and visitors who engage in community offerings of counselling, youth groups, social clubs and outreach programmes at the facility.

For our own team, we hoped to enhance team cohesion through our combined efforts of tidying the grounds, weeding, planting and preparing the grounds for their upcoming convention by measuring and cleaning down external carpets.

Outcomes and Impact

Environmental Enhancement: The new plantings increased local biodiversity, attracting bees, butterflies, and songbirds.

• Improved Accessibility: Clear pathways encourage longer stays, benefiting Keswick’s community programmes.

• Team Engagement: 6 staff members volunteered 40 collective hours, reporting heightened morale on completion of the day.

• Community Visibility: The refreshed garden drew positive attention, enhancing Keswick’s reputation and ours.

This gardening project exemplified how focused volunteering can deliver tangible environmental and social returns.

Building on this success, future steps include:

•Scheduling half yearly maintenance days.