We were pleased to welcome a group of enthusiastic volunteers from Suncorp Metway to our Day Program Service in Sutherland. Suncorp Metway offer all employees one day’s paid leave, or part-time pro rata equivalent, each financial year to participate in a community activity, known as a ‘Volunteer Day’. The Volunteer Day Program has been operating across Australia since 2004 and builds on the valuable work many Suncorp employees already do in the community. Sylvanvale has participated in the Volunteer Day for the past two years and provided a number of opportunities to Suncorp staff to have some fun, learn something new and make a difference in the lives of the people we support.

This year’s volunteers included Mary Young, Lindsay Cannon and Keith Macintosh who all lent a hand at the Garden House Day Program. The Garden House is the base of our Community Access program for 12 adults with intellectual disabilities with an interest in gardening, environmental issues and outdoor work.  The Suncorp volunteers worked alongside our team assisting with some much needed work in the garden; clearing the strawberry patch, re-potting plants and carrying out some general winter maintenance in the garden beds.  Curtis Oakes from Suncorp Metway said “At Suncorp, we value the communities in which we live and work and encourage our employees to get involved in community work – to ‘give something back’.

We look forward to working with another group of volunteers next year.

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