Corporate volunteering in action: Patrizia

We were delighted to welcome a team of six volunteers from investment management company Patrizia to our Tooting site for a day of hands-on support.

After a short briefing and introductions to some of our students, the group got straight to work on transforming our glasshouse space. Previously cluttered and underused, the aim was to create a more flexible environment that could support a wider range of activities.

Thanks to their efforts, the space has been completely refreshed. It can now be used not only for horticulture sessions and our social enterprise selling plants, but also as a calm, creative setting for groups such as our art classes, where students can draw and paint overlooking the garden. The team brought great energy to the task, impressing us with their enthusiasm and commitment.

A two-way experience

The impact of the day ran both ways. The Patrizia team shared:

'Our team had an amazing day and were really happy we found the Share Community Garden Centre! We felt this was the perfect size facility for our group and we could really see the immediate impact of the work we were doing for the centre – aided greatly by the visible reactions and smiles from the various students popping in and out and seeing the transformation of the glasshouse!'

The day also offered unexpected team-building benefits:

'We were also surprised at how much of a ‘team building’ type day this turned out to be for us, as we were given a large task with x number of hours to complete it and were left to our own devices to organise roles, responsibilities and best steps forward to provide a result which we were all proud of – as we’re a relatively newly built out team in our firm with a couple of us having joined in the last few months, this was a perfect way for us to get to know a bit more about how each of us work and how best we can collaborate which we’ll no doubt take forward into our work together.'

Spending time with the students and staff also reinforced the importance of seeing people as individuals:

'The overall day we had, and the conversations held with Share staff re-enforced the fact that we’re all unique humans and should be treated as such – a mentality which is absolutely key and can really help stop any individual or group of individuals from being "boxed" into a certain category. Initially some of us were almost over-thinking the way we should behave or act in certain moments with the students so not to cause any unwanted upset, like when they would stop by the room we were working in just to say hi and introduce themselves, but throughout the day we learned it was simply best to be our calm and relaxed self which made everything easier.'

Memorable moments

For the Patrizia team, the day was a reminder to step away from the usual ‘chaotic and stressful’ routine and focus on what really matters. One volunteer, Huaxiang, reflected on the experience:

Q: What was the most memorable part of the day?

'Bumping into/interacting with the students – I came away with a very positive impression of them and it was great seeing how they benefited from the community garden centre!'

Q: Did volunteering change your perspective or teach you anything new?

'Yes – as someone who hasn’t previously interacted much with people with learning disabilities, I found the day an eye-opening experience. It was great to interact with the students throughout the day and see how happy/‘at home’ they felt at the community garden centre.'

Q: Would you recommend our charity to others?

'Yes – programme was well run and most importantly, a fantastic cause to volunteer for.'

Why it matters

Days like this bring immediate, visible benefits to our spaces and students, while also offering volunteers the chance to learn, connect, and see the impact of their efforts. The Patrizia team left a lasting mark on our glasshouse and our community at Share Tooting, and we’re incredibly grateful for their support.

There are many ways to get involved with Share as a corporate volunteer. We’d love to hear from organisations interested in working with us. Please get in touch at volunteering@sharecommunity.org.uk