We love collaboration at House of Bread, especially when it involves the next generation! And so when a group of Sixth formers decided to help us out last month we were delighted.
Students from St. Dominic’s Grammar School in Brewood arrived at our warehouse in Astonfields to volunteer their time sorting donations from our recent harvest festivals. Many hands really do make light work. From tinned and dry food to toiletries the Sixth Formers sifted through the mountain of donated items, categorising them, checking expiry dates and helping us complete a very time-consuming job. Their help was invaluable. With so many extra pairs of hands the task was finished in record time.
This is what we love about collaboration. Everyone’s a winner. Our workload has been lightened meaning we have more time to devote to other areas, and the students had an insight into how a charity works behind the scenes giving them real life experience. We would encourage schools to volunteer their time at charities like us as the learnings for students can be so great. By volunteering, students meet new people in settings outside their normal scope, they learn ‘soft skills’ of working in a team, communicating with others and problem-solving. It also gives them the ‘feel good factor’. It really does feel good to help others and make a difference in your community.
We love it! Collaboration enriches everyone. Charities like House of Bread work more efficiently and the next generation gets a taste of the real world, leading to more sustainable outcomes for everyone.