feelgoodness...

How's this for 'feel good' employment?

The Feel Good Drinks Company, responsible for some scrumptious fruity drinks that are perfect for hot summer days, wants to spread the love...and keep its staff as happy as its customers. The employer has launched an initiative to give its staff five additional paid leave days a year to spend doing something that interests them - as long as it 'makes a difference'.  

One team member, Emma, used her time last autumn to give ten half days to Riding for Disabled (RDA) at the Baughurst branch (outside Basingstoke) helping to teach disabled children to ride. The group meets every Tuesday from 9.45am to about 12.15pm.

Having grown up with horses and been a rider all her life, Emma has always wanted to work with Riding for Disabled but never had the time - and now with three kids, she thought it would never happen! But working for The Feel Good Drinks Company, she has been able to fulfill her ambition.  Emma found the experience extremely rewarding and feels other companies should follow suit and offer their staff feelgoodness days as she believes it is really motivating for staff to have this opportunity.  The following is an excerpt from her first ‘diary’……  

9th October 2007

"Today is my first session of teaching disabled kids to ride. I am excited and a little apprehensive as although I have ridden all my life I don’t necessarily know everything to do with horses and especially horses and disabled kids! Arrive at the indoor school where my local Riding for Disabled branch, Baulkhurst (outside Basingstoke) meets every Tuesday morning during term times. There are about 15 volunteers for this group incl two qualified teachers (to teach disabled children specifically) and four very well natured and kind horses ranging from little Cloe who is pint sized and Gemma a big piebald (that’s black and white to non horsey people).

"There are two schools that come with about 20 kids in total, aged between 9 and 11, and they each ride for about 20 minutes each in a supervised lesson with a helper leading and two helpers either side. I am leading little Chloe who spends a lot of the time hunting my pockets for pony nuts I don’t have! The children’s disabilities vary and include cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. 

"There are records and notes on each child so you are aware of what they have and what to look out for – a child having an epileptic fit on a horse not a great idea so you need to be aware of the early signs. The RDA are extremely professional for a bunch of volunteers and they are very particular over training, screening you (CRB checks) and ensuring you follow certain protocol.

"The lessons are really well structured and we had the children, trotting, going over poles, bending, doing exercises and even a few gymkhana games. For us volunteers it is quite hard work and you are walking/running non stop for 2twohours! In between the riding, the children are taught stable management (parts of the horse, what brushes to use etc). Not to mention digging the mini bus with all the kids in out of the muck heap on the first day (no joke!!!)

"This has been an awesome experience – a very humbling experience at first but oh so rewarding and worth while. It is something that everyone should do!"

For more information on the gorgeous Feel Good Drinks Range, and to sign up to become a Feel Good Friend to receive news, special offers, other competitions and ideas on how to help spread feelgoodness, please visit www.feelgooddrinks.co.uk.  You can also download the fantastic Super Duper Mosaic Maker which can be used in your Facebook application to create a mosaic picture using images of all your friends.

COMPETITION!

To celebrate 'Feelgoodness' The Feel Good Drinks Company is offering one lucky Relentlessly Positive reader the chance to win a six month supply of Feel Good drinks (six cases)

Just e-mail Relentlessly Positive with your name and full postal address, and the answer to the following question: How many days leave does the Feel Good Drinks Company give staff to 'make a difference'?

Answers to me by 31 May. Good luck!