Well done to David Busfield, who is a Paraplanner in our Manchester office, and who has used Chase de Vere Volunteer Days to help his local rugby club after it was flooded when the River Mersey burst its banks.
Chase de Vere’s Volunteering policy supports employees who wish to offer their time and skills to work in their local communities or to help charities.
David’s local club is Didsbury Rugby Club, in South Manchester, which shares its facilities with Didsbury Football Club, and they suffered huge damage when the bank of the River Mersey collapsed, and floodwater swept through the local area on New Year’s Day. Hundreds of local residents had to be evacuated by boat and a major incident was declared by the emergency services.
Water from the River Mersey, which reached its highest levels in 66 years, quickly washed over the sports ground and playing field, taking trees with it, flooding the clubhouse block and tearing through walls.
David started volunteering as soon as the Environment Agency allowed them back on site. He has been organising work parties from the various groups who use the facilities, dealing with local and national media who were covering the story, liaising with the Environment Agency, insurers, and generally starting the cleanup process. The cleanup has been particularly hampered by areas of the buildings being structurally unsound along with the freezing water still covering much of the site.
David says, “Community facilities and local sports teams in general are driven by volunteers and a sense of community spirit. Whilst this is a truly awful situation, I’ve been really pleased to be able to use my Chase de Vere volunteer days to help be part of the cleanup!”
