FinancialForce4Good makes an impact for PRISM Youth Project
Certinia4Good represents our shared culture of philanthropy. We address social causes in our communities and improve the lives of others by harnessing the talents, passions and generosity of Certinia employees, partners and customers. Certinia has committed to giving 1% of our employee time to our community.
In April 2017, volunteers from Harrogate, UK’s office travelled to Keighley, West Yorkshire to Woodville Activity Centre (PRISM Youth Project). Woodville project is aimed specifically for young people aged between 11-25 years old with specific learning difficulties and disabilities. Their project offers young people the opportunity to grow and develop their personal and social skills. They focus on horticulture (Planting, digging, building beds, weeding, germination, propagation, pest control, health and safety etc.). They also support life skills, basic skills, music projects and mental health.
Certinia spent the day tidying up and building new parts to the centre to make it a more inviting place to come. The three tasks we completed were to build a new pond, create a new pathway leading through the gardens, and to clear up the beds. We had about 15 people working for the beds, 8 people on the pathway and 10 people on the pond.
Everyone worked from about 9:30am through till 4pm, 1 hour for lunch, and the amount of work we produced in this time was phenomenal!
As of September 2016, Certinia took an approach of hiring some apprentices to work for them, myself included. Each apprentice took part in the Certinia4Good event this year and the experience was amazing for all! The sense of pride showed with everyone. Here are what some of the others apprentices had to say about their first experience at a Certinia4Good event:
“I really enjoyed my first Certinia4Good event. Not only was it a good learning experience, it was a great opportunity to give my time to a community that needs help.” – Will Caress, IT Apprentice.
“This event brought teams of people from all areas of the business together in one effort to make real changes for the better within a community that needs real change. I found the day to be fun and, more importantly, genuinely beneficial to everyone who visits the centre and to the Certinia teams involved.” – Jack Holdsworth, Onboarding Apprentice.
“The experience for my first Certinia4Good event was unique compared to the other charity events I’ve been to before Certinia. This one really did make me feel like I’ve accomplished something that would actually help people in the future. Being able to see the end result, compared to how it looked when we first started the task, created a fantastic sense of achievement for myself.” – Addam Wilczynski, Project Management Apprentice.
“My first experience at a Certinia4Good event was fantastic. The day involved really rewarding work, with brilliant outcomes and a highly positive impact on the community. It was an enjoyable day which delivered fantastic results, leaving everyone feeling brilliant.” – Oscar Benson, Project Management Apprentice.
Everyone is looking forward to seizing the opportunity next year as well as participate any other charity and volunteering events that come around before then!
