Aviva lend a helping hand

On Wednesday 1^st October, 60 volunteers from Aviva branches across the UK arrived at The Nest for their Corporate Volunteering Day.

Having previously visited the Foundation’s Community Hub just twelve months prior for a similar initiative, the representatives from the insurance business began their October in Norfolk, helping to give The Nest some much-appreciated love ahead of the colder months ahead.

The voluntary team on the day consisted of staff from primarily two teams – the Aviva Group Property team and their new colleagues at Direct Line. The day in Norfolk was a special one for both groups, as it marked the first meeting between the two teams since Aviva’s acquisition of Direct Line in July.

Voluntary roles on the day included replacing and renovating the bark area of Challenge Woods, painting and repairing wooden benches and tables across the site and sweeping and raking away the first of the autumn leaves.

Arriving just before 11am in their matching yellow t-shirts, the Aviva ‘army’ wasted no time getting to work. For two hours straight, they rolled up their sleeves and made a real impact across The Nest site before taking a well-earned break. Our sixty volunteers then gathered at The Nest café to recharge over a buffet lunch.

Another two hours of raking, sweeping and non-stop smiling followed – and the outstanding end results were beginning to emerge.

By 3.30pm, the yellow army were ready to depart – their hard work onsite complete for a second year. With benches and tables all given a fresh lick of paint, and not a single fallen leaf in sight around the Challenge Woods, the Foundation’s Community Hub was looking fresher than it had done earlier that morning!

Jenna LaRiviere, the Foundation’s Volunteers Manager, was full of praise for the Aviva team:

“We’re incredibly grateful to the Aviva volunteers for their fantastic help and support at The Nest. Their time, energy, and enthusiasm made a real difference, and we truly appreciate their contribution. We hope to welcome them back again in the future!”

Everyone at the Foundation and The Nest would like to extend a huge thank you to the incredible Aviva volunteers. Your hard work has made a real difference and will help ensure The Nest remains a vibrant community hub for all who use and enjoy it.