Members of the executive team at Ipswich Building Society have spent half a day volunteering for local charity, ActivLives as part of a programme to help support third sector businesses across Suffolk.

The team assisted with groundwork on site at the ActivLives “ActivGarden”, in Halifax Road, Ipswich, helping to plant new orchards and a willow tunnel and creating new signage boards.

Those involved included the building society’s chief executive, Richard Norrington, finance director Kieron Blackburn, general manager (retail and distribution) Jo Leah, general manager (risk and compliance) Mark Nash and general manager (operations) Ian Brighton.

ActivLives provides support for people to improve their health and well-being, aiming to keep people connected with their communities to reduce social isolation and loneliness and provides access to training and volunteering opportunities, including employment-related skills.

Beyond the executive volunteering session, the building society is also supporting the charity by selling its ActivLives Keep on Rockin’ “We Love to Sing” CDs in branches across Suffolk. The CDs cost £5 each with the money raised helping to support Keep On Rockin’ and other community services delivered by ActivLives.

Richard Norrington said: “We had an enjoyable time helping ActivLives, and learning more about what they do. I am pleased we are able to continue to support them by stocking the Keep on Rockin’ ‘We Love to Sing’ CDs in our branches. As a mutual, a key part of our business is the community links we maintain, and giving something back to our heartland area.”

Danny Thorrington, project co-ordinator at ActivLives said, “We thoroughly enjoyed meeting the Ipswich Building Society executive team and were grateful to have them support us with some gardening at our site – their efforts are really appreciated.

“As well as having some hands-on help, it was very useful to discuss our various projects and services and what we do to support individuals and the local community as a whole. We look forward to working with the Society to continue to support our local area in the near future.”

In addition to the executive volunteering programme, Ipswich Building Society encourages all its staff to spend a half day per month helping at a charity or community organisation of their choice, as part of its committment to be a leading responsible business.