IPC Media digs up a fresh vegetable garden for Boutcher Primary School

IPC Media Digital Team has taken advantage of their company’s Employee Volunteering scheme to support their local community through a Let’s Get Cooking Team Challenge. The project consisted of creating a vegetable and herb garden and gets children involved and enthused about growing and cooking their own produce. The team tackled the challenge with outstanding motivation. Volunteers learnt gardening skills, mobilized partner companies to give £300 worth of plants and seeds and raised £300 worth of equipment through a ‘Desk Boot Sale’ fundraising activity which involved all IPC staff. Moreover, IPC volunteers used their IT skills to create a fantastic blog to share their experience with their colleagues, the school and the wider community. To read more visit ‘There is no place like gnome!’.

Boutcher Primary is a smaller than average London school counting 205 pupils aged 3-11. The school is situated in a very culturally and socially mixed area. More than 35% of children receive free school meals versus a national average of 16%. Half of the pupils speak English as an additional language, with a considerable number at an early stage of learning to speak English when they join the school. The proportion of pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Need is much higher than is usual in primary schools. 

The support given to Boutcher Primary’s Let's Get Cooking club has widened the opportunities offered to the pupils. The vegetable and herb garden and the gardening equipment left by the volunteers leaves a valuable legacy which will enable generations of young Londoners to learn about where food comes from, and enjoy the rewarding experience of growing and eating their own food. Growing fresh produce will also help teach pupils how to make wise and positive choices when it comes to their own nutrition and food choices.

The project was a challenging and rewarding experience for IPC volunteers. Team members had the opportunity to get involved in all stages of the project including planning, fundraising and creating the garden. Team Members had the occasion to learn and develop skills and competences such as project management, time management, team work, organisation and communication. On a personal level, IPC volunteer’s’ feedback was really positive. Employees thought the project enhanced their motivation, team spirit and camaraderie.