During this project, the team has also looked for ways to give back to the local community. One such initiative took place towards the end of last year when Sweco staff teamed up with the Friends of Shelf Hall Park and local volunteers for a hands-on corporate volunteering day.
The Friends of Shelf Hall Park, a volunteer-run charity dedicated to preserving and enhancing the beauty of Shelf Hall Park, a popular local green space.
Their mission is to ensure the park remains a welcoming environment for local residents to walk, play, and enjoy the stunning views. They also work to improve the current facilities available and acquire more to make the park an even more vibrant spot for residents.
While corporate volunteering days are often dependent on the weather, the team was fortunate to have perfect conditions on the day – a dry, sunny morning.
Sweco staff, together with volunteers from the Friends of Shelf Hall Park and Kate Hornby, Volunteer Hub Coordinator from VSI Alliance, gathered in the park’s car park and wasted no time getting to work transforming the park’s flowerbeds.
“I thoroughly enjoyed being able to contribute to enhancing the local greenspace and getting to know the volunteers in Calderdale” said Freya Marsh, Transport Planner at Sweco
“Thank you to VSI Alliance for facilitating this ‘tree-mendous’ morning!” Joe Charlesworth, Technical Director and Transport Planning and Local Government Advisory at Sweco UK, reflected on the day:
“It was lovely to be out of the office, getting my hands dirty and great to be helping a group in a community where we’re currently working. We got really lucky with the weather and we’ll definitely be back in the future to see the fruits of our labour and help out again!”
Kathrine Spivey, Chair of the Friends of Shelf Hall Park, was equally appreciative:
“Thank you so much to Sweco and Calderdale Council staff for their help, it makes such a difference to our work. We were blessed with the lovely weather and a great team of people and it was so good that some of our volunteers were able to join in too. It was great to meet everyone from Sweco and I really hope that we can work together again soon”
A total of 12 volunteers—five from Sweco, one from Calderdale Council, five from the Friends of Shelf Hall Park and one from VSI Alliance — dedicated their morning revitalising three large flowerbeds in the park. The group worked tirelessly, taking on tasks such as shovelling mulch, weeding, sweeping leaves, and planting bulbs in preparation for next spring.
The morning also sparked discussions about additional ways Sweco could support the FoSHP’s ongoing mission. Suggestions included helping to develop the group business plan and donating tools and seeds to aid future projects. The collaboration demonstrated how corporate volunteering can lead to lasting partnerships between businesses and local charities.
Throughout the morning, Sweco’s team enjoyed working alongside the Friends of Shelf Hall Park volunteers and having lively conversations during the well-earned tea break!
Kate thoroughly enjoyed contributing to the day’s success, both in helping to organise the activities and as the broker of this partnership… Speaking about the work of Friends of Shelf Hall Park she said:
“This park is such a special place for the local community – as we could see from the number of dog walkers, furry friends who came over to say hello as we worked, toddlers laughing and splashing in puddles and families enjoying fresh air together…
We’re glad we could play a small part in supporting the Friends of Shelf Hall Park and their ongoing efforts to keep it beautiful. A big thank you to Sweco and Calderdale Council for diving in, getting muddy, and working hard to support this small, amazing charity. The wonderful work they do ensures that Shelf residents can continue to enjoy this beauty spot for years to come.”
Sweco’s commitment to community involvement goes beyond a single volunteer day. The company looks forward to returning to Shelf Hall Park in the spring to see the results of their hard work and continue building their relationship with the Friends of Shelf Hall Park.
Initiatives like this highlight how businesses can actively support local projects, inspire positive change, and create connections that benefit the entire community. If you’d like to volunteer at Shelf Hall Park, the team meet every Saturday morning and warmly welcomes anyone wanting to help with the ongoing upkeep of the park.
If your business would like to discuss potential volunteering days for your staff, please get in touch with Kate Hornby at volunteerhub@vsialliance.org.uk or call 01422 348777.
