Yoga in wellies, harvesting vegetables in the rain and dabbling in art don’t sound like the regular activities of Private Bankers, but that’s exactly what the staff at Investec Bank (Channel Islands) Ltd (Investec) have been doing as part of a new relationship they have agreed with Jersey Mencap.
The initiative is a three-year partnership voted for by Investec staff as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to putting back into the communities it works in. Over the next three years Investec staff will be helping out at the allotment at Jersey Mencap’s Sprouts Farm Project; preparing the Pond for the autumn term; and spending time in the art room at the Philip Mourant Centre in Trinity.
Jersey Mencap has a busy programme of activities to offer choice, inclusion and opportunity to adults with a learning disability. Alex Wiles of Jersey Mencap says, ‘We are delighted to forge this new relationship with Investec as part of our ongoing CSR programme.
‘By welcoming staff into our various projects our aims include breaking down barriers and raising awareness of some of the challenges faced by people with a learning disability – a disability so often misunderstood. By working together in a fun and relaxed environment we benefit from new faces within our projects which offers more variety and different conversations, and the extra help is much appreciated.’
Kevin Allen, Branch Manager Investec in Jersey said, ‘It’s a fundamental part of Investec culture and values to contribute to the society we live in and our Corporate Social Responsibility policy reflects this. We focus on Education, Environment and Entrepreneurship and we do this through community partnerships and our active volunteering programme.
‘The whole team chose to work with Jersey Mencap because we really feel we can make a positive difference to the charity and its members.’
All of the staff at the Jersey office of Investec are involved in the partnership, volunteering two days of their time to support the different projects each year, which includes weeding, watering, path maintenance and taking part in making art.
