In 2009 we launched Penta in the Community as part of our strategy to become more involved with local charities and not for profit organisations in Wallington where our UK head office is located. As a major local employer we want to give something back to our local community, not just in terms of money, but more particularly in terms of volunteering and getting our staff involved. Since we launched the programme we have established links with a number of different groups across the spectrum and here is a brief look at some of what we have been getting up to.
Wallington Little League
Sunday Football for the Under 14s
Our Penta Maroon senior and junior teams are doing well this season and hoping to win the Penta Championship Trophy later in the year. Not only do staff go along to cheer on the teams but we are also helping to update their website.
Trout in the Classroom
An educational environmental project
Run through the Wandle Trust this innovative project provides local schools with tanks of trout eggs for a 12 week period during which time staff and pupils can see how they hatch and develop before being released into the Wandle river in April.
The Penta tank this year was at Culvers House primary school and overseeing this project is avid Penta fisherman and longtime supporter of the Wandle Chris Dodge. Other members of staff have also enjoyed getting involved with the release into the wild and with the regular Sunday clean up sessions.
Beddington & Wallington Senior Citizen’s Club
Thanks to the Penta Wii games console members of our local senior citizen's club can have fun keeping fit at their meetings with competitive sessions of ten pin bowling and tennis.
When we can members of staff pop down to their Monday sessions to have a chat and see if there is anything they can do to help.
Despite very snowy weather at the beginning of the year, we treated members to a fantastic Music Hall Matinee at Wimbledon theatre providing a nostalgic trip into a world of song, dance, laughter, variety and back to the glorious and golden days of traditional Music Hall. And for those who were literally snowed in we organised a second trip to see the Chinese State Circus.
Local scout groups
We raised £320 for 1st North Wallington scout group thanks to the efforts of colleague and scout leader Garry who organised a terrific race night for us all. Amazingly it costs £5,000 just to run his scout group so all donations are scooped up enthusiastically. Garry has been involved with scouting since he was nine and no doubt has lots more up his sleeve to get his colleagues involved in this year.
We are also helping out another scout group for special needs children with a piece of essential equipment for their camping trips.
Disabled children
In March we got involved with a fun day for local disabled children in Wallington. We sponsored a free swimming and gym session which was enthusiastically taken up by the majority of the families who attended. Group Managing Director Paul Clark and HR Manager Kirsty Dunn went along the day and joined in the fun.
Community Drug Service for South London
We are delighted to be supporting this important project which is based in Wallington and even more so because our staff can get involved and use their recruitment know how and expertise to make a real difference to clients keen to get back to work.
Kris England Smith Penta's Training Manager has taken part in a pilot programme of workshops to help CDS clients make, what is often a very difficult transition, back into the workplace. Director Andy Crouch joined Kris at the launch event to run a session on putting together a CV, looking for jobs on the internet and how to succeed at interviews.
Work experience
Every year we offer short work placements to pupils at local schools and as usual will look forward to this year's intake. During their placement we offer a well structured programme ensuring they get a taste of what it's like to work in different parts of our business with a variety of staff. This year we will be welcoming Alesio from Thomas More School in Purley.
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Telephone: +44 (0)20 8647 3999