Why We Charge for Community Impact Days
When a business brings a team to Stonebridge for a volunteer day, it isn’t stepping into a free or spare space.
Hosting corporate volunteers takes real planning and resources; staff time, supervision, safeguarding, insurance, and the ongoing care of our land, tools, animals, and facilities. It also disrupts our normal routines, all of which must be managed by a charity with limited capacity.
If we didn’t charge, these costs would be covered by donations meant to support our volunteers and local community. That would mean subsidising a company’s team-building or CSR activity, which isn’t a responsible use of our charitable funds.
Our fee isn’t a donation or about profit. It’s about covering costs and setting a clear, respectful boundary. It ensures our staff and volunteers are properly supported and that hosting businesses doesn’t detract from our core mission.
We value businesses that want to contribute meaningfully. In our experience, those who understand this approach become our strongest long-term partners.
See who has joined us recently and what they got up to
Coca-Cola
Capital One
Capital One
A day of construction for the team from Coca-Cola. They helped with our new bird aviary and also assembled some of our new tables and chairs. They also made a generous donation to the farm on top of their CID contribution.
Capital One
Capital One
Capital One
Capital One joined the number of CIDs who have been working on our aviary. They gave our newly sowed grass seeds a good watering and of course the farm's favourite task of moving manure!
HWA
Capital One
Yugo
The team from HWA were raring to go. Luckily they wore their hi-vis vests because the first task they were given was to make up some sweet packs for an upcoming event! Unfortunately for them once they had finished that task they did some weeding and clearing of the animal paddocks.
Yugo
Exposure Ninja
Yugo
The team from Yugo were given loads of tasks to do during their time on the farm. They carried on working on the new bird aviary, made a pumpkin tree feature, a spot of weeding, painting and cleaning. The managed to get so many jobs done throughout their day at the farm.
Ideagen
Exposure Ninja
Exposure Ninja
You would think that the weeds would stop growing during the autumn/winter months. Unfortunately for us that isn't the case, but lucky for us we had the team from Ideagen on hand to get pulling!
Exposure Ninja
Exposure Ninja
Exposure Ninja
The team from Exposure Ninja were an excellent team who had a tremendous drive to support the farm. The team were from up and down the country and usually work remotely so this was a great opportunity to meet each other for the first time in person and to build working relationships. Lots of fun was had working together and figuring things out as a team.
Boots No.7
Boots No.7
Boots No.7
We split the Boots No.7 team into different groups. Some people were tasked with digging, some painting and stepped into the kitchen and peeled kilos of apples in readiness for cooking. I know which group I would like to be part of!
Experian
Boots No.7
Boots No.7
Experian are regular visitors to the farm so we thought we would give them an extra tough challenge on their recent visit. They were tasked with moving the concrete posts and gravel boards from our compost manure bay. Some of you may know how heavy those things are! After lunch we were kind and just asked them to do a bit of painting.
LexisNexis
Boots No.7
Boots Procurement Team
LexisNexis have supported the farm for a number of years now so it's always great to have them visit and show them what we're up to. One group did some more work on the new aviary shed and the other removed some of the posts on our compost site. A fun day had by all!
Boots Procurement Team
Boots Procurement Team
Boots Procurement Team
Another team from Boots joined us at the farm to give us an extra helping hand. We asked them to help with (not quite) spring cleaning. You could certainly tell the difference in the shop, volunteer room and even the barn after they were done!
Specsavers
Boots Procurement Team
Specsavers
The name of the game for Specsavers on their visit was paint! They painted (and helped build) the new aviary, A boards, book case, Kevin the Tortoise's fence and a flatbed. Not bad for a hard day's work.
NTU
Boots Procurement Team
Specsavers
This team were graced with lovely morning on the morning, however the afternoon wasn't so generous. Despite this extra challenge they worked hard all day, repairing matting in the play park, moving soil, building a new aviary and a spot of cleaning. Good work team!
Capital One
Capital One
Capital One
Capital One are regular visitors to help out at the farm, so they knew to come prepared for manure moving! We had a number of groups from Capital one recently, all given plenty of tasks to do. All of their skills were tested and they always worked well as a team.
Deceim
Capital One
Capital One
Deceim were given a variety of different tasks and they enthusiastically got stuck in with them all. They moved manure, picked apples and even assembled some flat pack furniture for us, what more could you want.
BPP
Capital One
London Stock Exchange
The team from BPP certainly enjoyed their day out of the office. We asked them to fit new rubber safety flooring around the play park roundabout. That doesn't seem like the most exciting job, however that means they also get to test their handiwork! After multiple testing we can confirm that the park area is safer for our visitors.
London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
What's the first thing you think of when you hear London Stock Exchange? A small farm in Nottingham city centre of course! The were tasked with weeding, painting and a spot of cleaning. The weather was very British however the team smiled throughout and enjoyed their day!
NTU
London Stock Exchange
United Living
We have had loads of groups from NTU come to do TVDs over the past few months. They're always an excellent bunch who get stuck in with any task we give them. We look forward to seeing you again in the future.
United Living
London Stock Exchange
United Living
Another classic British summer's day for United Living but the rain didn't dampen their spirits. They did an excellent job clearing all areas of the farm and improving the site to develop future projects.
Wilmott Dixon
Nottingham Clinical Trials
Wilmott Dixon
I imagine if Wilmott Dixon never see a paint brush again they will be happy! We set them to work painting the huge doors outside our education room, with all the nooks and crannies they did an amazing job at keeping motivated.
Eversheds
Nottingham Clinical Trials
Wilmott Dixon
Many TVDs helped build it but Eversheds were the ones to finally finish the fencing in the big paddock! Once they had finished that they were tasked with clearing things: from general rubbish to various green things, they did an excellent job.
Nottingham Clinical Trials
Nottingham Clinical Trials
Nottingham Clinical Trials
We are currently NCTU's charity of the year and they are hosting a variety of different fundraisers for us throughout the year. It was great to be able to meet them and of course to make them do some painting while they were here.