A THORNBURY-BASED business has been lending a hand to a local charity.

Insurance provider, Europa Group, lent a hand on the farm of the charity, The Camphill Trust.

The Camphill Trust was suggested to Europa by the Thornbury Volunteer Centre who they asked to help them find a local organisation who could use a bit of extra manpower.

The centre suggested the organisation, based at The Hatch in Thornbury, which is a supported living community for adults.

A group of ten volunteers from various parts of the Europa Group, working alongside Residents and support workers from The Hatch undertook a series of tasks on and around The Hatch’s Bio-Organic farm.

The team then began transporting some of The Hatch’s soft-fruit bushes and harvested some of their vegetable crop.

The day was an opportunity for a number of Europa staff whose paths might not normally cross during their working day to collaborate on a series of tasks, meet and work with the residents and support staff and make a positive contribution to a worthwhile, local cause.

Nigel Knight, Europa volunteer team co-ordinator, said: “The Hatch is a very special place run for and by wonderful people. It was a day I won’t forget and would do again in a heartbeat”.

Melvin Talbot, one of the volunteers, said: “It was great a day, (despite the weather), where we had the opportunity to work with a fantastic organisation who support and improve the quality of life of such wonderful and creative individuals.I can’t wait to go back there again”.

Another of the volunteers, Louise Ireland, added:

“It was a great pleasure to attend the Europa Volunteer day at The Hatch and meet the staff and residents who made the whole experience so much fun and such a rewording day, I think we all managed to achieve something positive by the end of the day!

“My special thanks to the Residents and Staff, it was great meeting you and look forward to seeing you again soon.”

The feedback from The Hatch team on the volunteers was that they were delighted with the energy, enthusiasm and hard work of everyone involved.

This is the first of what is intended to be a series of collaborations between Europa and The Hatch team over the coming months.