Vodafone Group collegues swap Paddington office for school roof garden

Vodafone Group colleagues showed their competitive streak on Thursday 22 March as they vied for the title of ‘Super Sander’ and ‘Victorious Varnisher’.

36 colleagues descended on Hampden Gurney Primary School where the majority spent the afternoon on the roof garden. The school is unusual in its design with play decks created on each floor of the building as opposed to a traditional playground.

The roof space has fantastic views and the potential to be an oasis from the bustle of school and nearby Edgware Road, but the wooden furniture was tired, splintered and in need of a spruce-up for the summer. Between them the group sanded and varnished the picnic tables, bench seating, doors and edging creating a much more cared for space for the children to visit and for the school’s gardening club to enjoy.

A sub-team spent the afternoon several floors below in the school changing rooms – at one point three colleagues managing to squeeze themselves into one toilet cubicle; determined to ensure they finished their painting challenge. The once cream walls were repainted shades of blue and purple, finishing work that had been started by another corporate team at the end of last year.

Two soon to be new Mums in the group donned hair nets and aprons and helped serve lunch to the junior school children, before having an afternoon in Reception. Both commented on the appreciation this gave them for the challenges teachers face and an eye-opening insight into another profession.