Graduate challenge at Queen's Hall Women's Hostel
Derby-based RedWelly will be working in close partnership with Rolls-Royce to deliver the Rolls-Royce Graduate Induction Challenge 2009. This year’s Challenge is an exciting community project designed to transform the outdoor areas at Queen’s Hall Women’s Hostel in Derbyshire.
In only their second day at work, up to 180 graduate trainees from across the globe will turn their skills to gardening and general maintenance - under the direction of the RedWelly team - to make the outdoor area at the Hostel more attractive and fit for purpose.
The event, which takes place on 15 September, aims to give this year’s cohort the opportunity to get to know one another and develop their interpersonal and team working skills, whilst also making a valuable contribution in the local community. .
Debbie Hackett, RedWelly’s Designer, explained more about the project and what everyone wants to achieve. “The Hostel gives assistance and temporary accommodation to homeless and vulnerable women and their children, so we hope that these improvements will make a huge difference to their quality of life.
“The Rolls-Royce graduates, with a little professional support from RedWelly, have a day to install play equipment and outdoor seating, improve the car park area, renovate the existing gardens and improve the entrance courtyard. That is quite a big ask but I’m sure we’ll manage it.”
Gill Fennell, Community Relations Manager for Rolls-Royce said: "For a number of years, Rolls-Royce has worked with its new intake of graduate trainees to complete a community-based challenge during their first week within the Company. The fact that we ask our graduate trainees to undertake this task on their second day in the Company demonstrates our committed company values and highlights the importance we place on contributing to the communities in which we operate.”
RedWelly is an award-winning business based on a social enterprise model. It helps transform gardens and open spaces for the benefit of local communities and groups.
Other local businesses support RedWelly’s efforts, such as Woodgrow Horticulture, which is providing plants and other materials for the project. MD Martin Woodhouse said: “We believe that gardens and outdoor spaces can have a really positive impact for people. I am delighted to be able to help this project and thereby all those who will benefit from the garden itself.”