Unum staff build firm foundations

On Tuesday 4th September a team of 10 employees from disability insurance firm Unum, spent the day at SeeAbility Heather House. The team comprised staff from the Claims Management Department based at Basingstoke. This is third event in a programme of volunteering that will next see a team from Unum's Dorking office visit Denecroft in Guildford to complete a garden makeover.

The challenge set for the Unum team was to lay the foundations for a new wheelie bin storage area in the ground of Heather House.

After a welcome and introduction from centre manager, Sarah Kenrick, the Unum team were given a brief tour of the centre before getting a briefing from Melvyn, the centre's maintenance man. Then it was down to business as they headed out into the garden to meet the patch of grass that they would be transforming. The team soon settled into the task of clearing 5 inches of top soil ready for the two tons of aggregate and one ton of sand that was waiting to take its place!

After a long hot mornings work, the team took a welcome break and enjoyed a hearty lunch with mugs of tea, lasagne followed by a trifle.

The afternoon was spent shifting the aggregate and sand before the first of the paving slabs could finally be laid. The team managed to get the brunt of the task completed but time beat them and they left Heather House, tired but happy.

Team leader Stuart said;

"We had a really tough time as the soil was so dry and compacted. The team made a huge effort in the afternoon and got all the heavy work done, shifting almost three tonnes of materials onto the site. The sun shone and we had a very enjoyable day away from the office. Great lunch too."

Another great team effort from Unum staff. Many thanks.