KPMG staff get their hands dirty to make a difference

James Qualtrough | August 31, 2012 | 0 Comments

Employees from KPMG have been getting their hands dirty recently, assisting with community projects across Jersey as part of the firm’s annual Make a Difference Day initiative.

Last month (July 30 to 3 August) over 80 members of the accountancy firm participated in five community projects around the island, which were nominated by staff. Each staff member spent a day out of the office assisting with important voluntary work at Maison des Landes, Little Oaks Nursery, Trees for Life, Aids Care Education Training (ACET) and Jersey Cheshire Homes.

“Staff take pride in the projects they participate in. As the staff members involved select the chosen charities, they can mean something very personal to them, which is a real bonus. The scheme was a huge success for the fifth year running and the feedback we have received from the charities we have assisted has been excellent,” said Andrew Quinn, executive director of KPMG Channel Islands, who is responsible for the firm’s corporate citizenship programme in Jersey.

The projects varied in description – with tasks such as gardening, renovating a pétanque court, erecting fences, decorating, and building a greenhouse – but each shared the common ground of being much needed work.

Employee Holly Clark, Markets and Marketing Assistant, was pleased to be involved in the project at Little Oaks Nursery.

“It was a morning of hard work but it was very rewarding to see the end result. We finished the project with six brand new mini, toddler-sized picnic tables built and a newly painted, candy-coloured fence for the nursery children to enjoy.

It is great to do something different and everyone on the team really enjoyed the project. When we arrived, the fencing was a murky green colour and there was no dedicated seating for the children; you can really see the difference now,” she said.

This sort of work is not just reserved for one week a year. Making a significant and positive contribution to the issues that affect communities and environments is at the heart of KPMG’s core values across the globe, and KPMG in the Channel Islands undertakes a number of schemes all year round.

“We try to do what we can for the community throughout the year, with financial donations and schemes such as the Springfield School Reading Project. We actively encourage everyone in the firm to use their skills to make a difference in the community,” said Mr.Quinn.

KPMG’s “Make a Difference Day” project schedule – Monday 30 July to Friday 03 August:

Maison des Landes
All day on the Monday and Tuesday KPMG staff worked at Maison des Landes Hotel in St Ouens – a charitable trust set up by the Lions Club of Jersey to provide holidays for the disabled. Here they were involved in landscaping the garden; building a greenhouse, putting up a trellis and renovating the pétanque pitch.

Little Oaks Nursery
On the Wednesday morning staff visited Highlands College to help build a picnic area for the nursery as well as put up fences and construct seating.

Trees for Life
On Wednesday afternoon and Thursday afternoon, KPMG staff worked with Trees for Life reconnecting the hedges and re-establishing the natural habitat; ultimately for the benefit of the Island’s biodiversity.

ACET
On Thursday morning KPMG worked on a gardening project planting, weeding and clearing a site at the charities’ headquarters.

Jersey Cheshire Homes
Finally, on Friday KPMG did some redecorating work to help rejuvenate the Jersey Cheshire Homes building inside.