Avison Young has been taking part in volunteering activities as part of the company-wide Day of Giving. The annual volunteer initiative, now in its eighth year, is focused on supporting organisations advancing sustainability, equality and health.
In Bristol, the Avison Young team was involved in two different community activities, partnering with One Tree Per Child, and Groundwork.
At Napier Miles Park in Lawrence Weston, North Bristol, Avison Young team members were supporting Bristol City Council’s One Tree Per Child project, which plants trees in schools, parks and open spaces in Bristol. 1,000 woodland trees were planted in the park five years ago (coinciding with the year of Bristol Green Capital), as part of a total 36,000 trees across the city representing one tree for every child in the city at the time. To keep these trees healthy and enhance future growth, Avison Young was tasked with removing mulch mats from around the trees and placing new mulch down. After a day’s work, the team had successfully cleared the old mulch from around half of the trees.
One Tree Per Child has planted 70,000 trees since 2014 and continues to plant over 6,000 trees per year.
At Goblin Combe Environment Centre to the South West of the city, team members were helping Groundwork prepare their residential education lodge for welcoming back visitors. Groundwork has a mission to ensure that everyone has access to good quality outside space no matter where they live. Goblin Combe covers 130 acres of woodland which is used as an outdoor classroom for people of all ages (from toddlers through to pensioners), working with schools, community groups, rehabilitation centres and more. Many of these groups use the residential lodge, so Avison Young was able to help with tasks to get the site ready to reopen and improve the woodland space. This included coppicing, clearing of the woodland, and improving an existing assault course.
Jo Davis, Managing Director Avison Young in Bristol said, ”It’s been a great privilege for our office to come together and do something meaningful for the community and environment around us. We’ve been able to support two inspiring projects in our neighbourhood, One Tree Per Child, and Groundwork, both of which support the well-being of our communities.”
Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, said,
“We are pleased to be working with Avison Young as part of their Day of Giving to support local community projects. Their contribution has gone a long way in helping us to continue to improve local places and spaces in communities across the UK. Thanks to all involved for their hard work.”
Jason Sibthorpe, Principal and UK President, Avison Young, said:
“It is great to be representing Avison Young in our local communities in person again, following a successful, but fully virtual, Day of Giving last year. Coming together to make good things happen and building team spirit is now more important than ever. We believe when we support each other, we support our collective wellness. Led by our Emerging Leaders programme, our Day of Giving is just one way we continue to put people at the heart of everything we do.”
Throughout the UK and Ireland, Avison Young’s teams were involved with 30 activities in their local areas, comprising maintenance and conservation tasks at nature reserves, beaches and community parks, litter picking, collecting parcels for food banks, as well as a charity cycle and hike.
Avison Young believes in the positive impact commercial real estate can make all over the world, and is particularly invested in the places we live and work. Every year, teammates come together with their communities for our Day of Giving to help initiate change through action and partnership – supporting local organisations advancing sustainability, equality and health.
