Member Article

Charity garden thriving thanks to Birmingham consultancy

The team at Birmingham-based change consultancy, Entec Si, have come together to breathe new life into the garden of a local charity.

Working in small groups, the 18-strong team of Entec Si volunteers rolled up their sleeves earlier this month to help rejuvenate the Kings Heath gardens of Thrive Birmingham. Getting involved in everything from weeding and jet-washing, to building wheelchair ramps and repainting wheelchair-accessible planters, the team also rebuilt compost heaps and improved the accessibility of the outdoor space by clearing an overgrown pathway used by people with special educational needs when they need some time to themselves.

Entec Si’s dedication to CSR activities was also demonstrated earlier in the year, when 25 of its people took part in a virtual 981-mile John O’Groats to Land’s End (JOGLE) challenge for Thrive. This resulted in the team raising an impressive £1,300 for the charity in support of its vital work.

With centres across the UK, Thrive uses horticultural therapy to improve the lives of people living with disabilities or ill health, who are isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable.

Anna Lane, senior consultant at specialist change consultancy, Entec Si, said: “Thrive Birmingham’s ethos around using nature to enhance people’s wellbeing completely aligns with our own. This was the first time that our team has been able to come together to support the charity since the pandemic and was a real reminder of what we can achieve as a team. We’re big believers in giving back to our local community and we hope that our day’s work will make it easier for those who need it most to enjoy this beautiful outdoor space.”

Alexandra Bailey, client and garden manager at Thrive Birmingham, said: “Having a group of such enthusiastic and hardworking people in the Thrive gardens for a day makes such a difference. We were able to set them working on projects around the garden that we just haven’t had the time or resources to address up until now. The team from Entec Si came with bags of energy and positivity and were a joy to work with.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Entec Si .