Three weeks of voluntary work by an award-winning construction firm has transformed a farm project in Hereford that works with and for the community.
McPhillips, currently on site in the city delivering the new £10 million Hereford Transport Hub, is committed to making a positive impact in the communities where it works.
With the help of Herefordshire Voluntary Organisations Support Service (Hvoss), Hereford Community Farm on Grafton Lane was identified as an opportunity for McPhillips to give back through a corporate volunteering project.
Over the last three weeks, three members of McPhillips staff have worked full time on the site, with all equipment – including a digger and a dumper truck – materials and resources supplied by them alongside donations from suppliers.
Andrew Dunham, McPhillips director, said: “As part of our social value commitments at Hereford Transport Hub, we were keen to find a local voluntary project where our skills and expertise could make a real difference.
“The ethos of HCF aligns closely with ours at McPhillips; that is, giving back to the local communities where we work.
“We’re happy to have completed the work at the farm, which we hope will be of real benefit to the farm and its visitors over the coming years.”
Hereford Community Farm is an inclusive, therapeutic Community Interest Company (CIC) that supports individuals of all ages and abilities through nature-based activities. By offering structured, hands-on programmes the farm empowers those with additional needs or mental health challenges to build self-esteem, learn new skills and self-manage their well-being.
Julie Milsom, founding director at Hereford Community Farm, said: “We aim to provide meaningful, life-changing experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds who face specific challenges. Whether that’s through working with animals, horticulture or the natural environment, we believe in the power of these connections to support, inspire and transform lives.
“We were delighted to be put in touch with McPhillips who have been so incredibly generous with their time and resources. We really couldn’t have done this work without them.”
The project included clearing a large barn in order to transform it into an indoor covered area to work the ponies, building a base for a new structure, creating accessible paths and addressing water drainage on site.
Mandy Furniss from Hvoss said: “McPhillips approached us last September looking for corporate volunteering projects, and we worked with them to discuss how they might implement their social value commitment within the transport hub contract.
“We advertised the opportunity within the voluntary and community sector and collated the responses. We were delighted that McPhillips chose to work with Hereford Community Farm, which is a valued member of Hvoss.”
McPhillips, which is based in Telford but works across the West Midlands, received support from Eagle Plant, Radbournes and Frazer in the supply of plant and materials.
For more information on the Hereford Community Farm visit https://www.herefordcommunityfarm.co.uk/
