Over 1,000 AXA employees based in Bristol have completed 150 tasks set by local charities, schools and community groups, helping to save over £100,000 pounds in labour and equipment costs.
The projects, which are part of AXA’s Hearts in Action Community Challenge Initiative 2009, included support for St Stephen’s Infant School, Aspects and Milestones Trust and the Avonside District Headquarters Guide Hut.
Pupils at St Stephen’s Infant School were asked to come up with themes to re-vamp their playground and took part in a competition to design a mural using dragons, princesses and castles.
The team of AXA employees taking on the challenge of improving the outside space at St Stephen’s Infant School were asked to choose a winner. Out of the 262 entries Lily Mason’s design was chosen.
Vicki O’Shea, the teacher responsible for organising the competition said: “The mural looks fantastic – really bright and colourful. It was great that all the children were involved in choosing the theme and creating the design”.
AXA Capita staff spent a day at one of Aspects and Milestones Trust’s residential homes in Downend for people with learning disabilities, older people and people with mental health needs including dementia.
Volunteers cleared overgrown flower beds, potted hanging baskets, planted herbs and hung wind chimes to create a sensory garden.
Claire Maine, Home Manager for the Aspects and Milestones Trust said: ‘The team from AXA worked really hard to transform our overgrown garden into a beautiful space. They were a lovely team and fully included the residents – a great day was had by all.’
The Avonside District Headquarters Guide Hut in Shirehampton also benefited from AXA’s Community Challenge initiative by having a new lick of paint and a general tidy up.
Mark Edwards, an AXA employee and team leader for the challenge said: ‘This was the first ever AXA Community Challenge I have organised and I felt really proud about what we achieved by the end of the day, it was quite a transformation. The team worked hard and have all commented on a sense of satisfaction in completing the task.’
