OKEHAMPTON?s Ockment Centre is the first organisation in Devon to benefit from a new employee volunteering scheme. Devon County Council?s economy and regeneration section was looking for a team building exercise and chose to carry out a make-over project at the centre. The day was organised by Karen Bridgford, project co-ordinator for the Devon Reinvestment Service. Karen said: ?The day was a great success. Despite fairly constant Dartmoor drizzle, we managed to weed and tidy the front and courtyard gardens and all the flower tubs; paint a new mural in the centre?s reception; clear the leat and paint an outbuilding ? all in all, a very productive day! ?Everyone seemed to enjoy it and enter into the spirit of things, despite being wet, covered in mud, paint etc and we all got to know one another pretty well, which was the main objective as there have been many personnel changes in our section during the last few months.? Through the employee volunteering scheme, people are being given the opportunity to do voluntary work as a way of developing their skills, capabilities and experience. The council has entered into a partnership with Business in the Community (BITC) to offer a ?DCC Employee Volunteering Scheme? which will provide benefits to members of staff, the council and the community. Many volunteering projects will relate to the core business of the county council, such as working with socially excluded and vulnerable people. More opportunities will be created through the setting up of a mentoring scheme for young people who are looked after by the council. Barry Wilding-Webb, workforce planning advisor, said: ?Volunteering can offer great opportunities for people to develop a variety of skills as part of their personal and career development. ?These will equip staff for both their existing job and future career moves. ?Volunteering can assist this by enhancing and developing people?s skills, and, at the same time, providing contact with the community, leading to a real sense of achievement.?
