27 June 2012

Last week, The Conservation Volunteers staff from all over Northern Ireland packed into our minibuses to head to the annual staff conference. This year the event was hosted by the Niamh Louise Foundation, a charity set up to provide suicide support and services to people in rural communities throughout Northern Ireland.

The day began with a presentation about the Niamh Louise Foundation. An informative morning session followed with The Conservation Volunteers Campaign Manager, Lisa Cowley, who helped everyone get to grips with the strategy behind the recent rebranding.

Eager to do what we do best, teams set to work after lunch cleaning up the gardens surrounding the building. Showing how gardening can play a role in improving health and wellbeing, teams cut grass, built raised beds and cleaned out an old swimming pool. The once overgrown gardens will now be used by the Niamh Louise Foundation as a tranquil, therapeutic space for those coming to the foundation seeking help.

In return for all our hard work, The Conservation Volunteers staff sampled reflexology treatments offered by the Niamh Louise Foundation. A treat that was gladly welcomed after a long day of hard work!