Olive Catering supports CAPTA in the community

Leicestershire, UK.  1 June 2011 – A team of Olive Catering volunteers have transformed the backyard of a day care centre and nursery (CAPTA) for families in the centre of Leicester.  The Olive Catering team, comprising a mix of Team Members from head office together with several Operations Managers, provided the labour and materials to turn a backyard knee deep in refuse into a sensory and playful garden area for the children to enjoy.

On what had been a somewhat untidy dirty gravel area, the Olive team put down a wood chip base and installed vegetable, herb and flower beds as well as painting the walls with fun and colourful murals that brighten up the new play area for the children.  Bird tables, lady bird huts and tall sunflower beds further enhanced the sensory and learning environment.

CAPTA (the Childrens & Parent’s Alliance) provides day nursery and other childcare services together with parenting courses for local families in the Highfield area of Leicester.  The project was facilitated by Leicestershire Cares, an initiative of Business in the Community that works to connect employers, employees and communities.

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Val Fisher, CAPTA projects manager explained:

“Words failed me when I saw the outcome of the project – we are truly delighted with the work Olive Catering has done and the imagination, artistry and industry they have bought to the project.  As a relatively small social enterprise with limited funding we would have struggled to achieve this on our own and it is a real delight to show the families and children what has been achieved.  Without doubt the lives and educational opportunities of the children in our care have been significantly enhanced.”

Andrew Norrie, Co-Founder said:

“Getting involved with our local community forms one part of Olive’s CSR strategy (Olive Ethics) which also includes initiatives around environmental, healthy eating and employee engagement issues.  We want to be a good neighbour within the community and, where possible, to provide support for good causes.  Projects like this are ideal for us in that they make a contribution to education in the area and also promote teamwork and employee involvement in the community.  We are as delighted as CAPTA with our involvement and outcome of the project.”