Member Article

Babington Staff helping to bring ‘Community Together’

Award winning training provider - Babington were delighted to support the ‘Community Meal’ project to help YMCA Derbyshire and Head High, a local mental health organisation.

The ‘Community Meal’ is held on the last Friday of each month at YMCA Derbyshire’s London Road Campus, with the aim of bringing people together from different backgrounds to enjoy a welcoming space and food to nourish both body and mind. Through such community gatherings, communication can be improved, which in turn has a positive effect on loneliness, a major cause of mental health problems amongst adults.

Babington regularly raise funds for local causes and staff decided they didn’t want to just raise funds but take part in a community project that really helps local people, some of whom struggle with mental health challenges. The team from Babington were on hand preparing and helping serve the food and greeting over 100 guests at YMCA Derbyshire’s London Road Campus, on Friday 25th May.

Carole Carson, CEO, Babington said “I am so proud of my team for choosing to support our local YMCA. Supporting our local community is very important to us, and hosting the meal helps us to truly give something back”. She continued “ We firmly believe that, not only do we want to support our local employers and learners through training but by supporting the wider community by taking on these sort of projects”

Amanda Solloway, who founded Head High, said: “There are times in our life when we can feel alone or lonely and it can be so difficult to get out and meet people. So we at Head High started this joint venture with YMCA Derbyshire to say to people ’come along, join us for some good food and welcoming company… ‘One small act of kindness can send ripples throughout the community’. We are delighted that the staff at Babington chose to support one of our Meals”.

Two local ladies who join the community meal each month are Miss Joan Wilkinson, 67 and Betty Cox, 85. Joan said “We use the service as we no longer have cooking facilities at our residence at Handyside Court, Alvaston. It’s a brilliant project and really helps us by not only providing a delicious hot meal but more importantly companionship and the chance to get together and socialise – that’s so important to us. We hope other local businesses support this project to help the YMCA continue to provide this service”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Dawn Spendlove .