Gas Network Volunteers Muck In

Volunteers from gas distribution network SGN have been mucking in to support Sittingbourne’s Happy Pants Ranch as part of a new wellbeing initiative.

Based at the South East Construction depot, 24 SGN colleagues took part in the company's Community Action Programme (CAP) to spend a day tending to special needs animals. Throughout the day, they helped to feed the pigs, laid down new wood chippings in the chicken outdoor area and sorted through old pieces of wood, metal and other pieces of equipment.

They laid new bedding for the pig pen with old, donated duvet sheets and pillows and they also helped out with the cleaning of enclosures. The team also collected donations such as animal food, old towels, duvets and newspapers, as well as items for boot fairs and raffles.

The SGN scheme gives all staff one day away from their usual duties to volunteer with a local charitiy to give back to the local community. Happy Pants Ranch is an independent, no kill, donation-reliant animal sanctuary and rescue registered charity here in Sittingbourne - which provides a forever home to over 350 special needs animals with nowhere else to go. It also acts as a wellbeing hub for the local community and volunteers.

Rosie Duffin is a Traffic Management Act Planner at SGN and, alongside her regular work, she’s embarking on a new journey as a Wellbeing Champion. Rosie explained how she is aware of the benefits that physical activity can have on someone’s mental health and encouraged her colleagues to take part in a CAP day together.

Rosie told SFM News: “For me personally, working on myself while supporting a local charity and spending time with animals sounded perfect. It’s an amazing exercise for team building, increasing team morale while working together away from the office. It creates a relaxed (perhaps slightly tiring) atmosphere and helps build relationships with your colleagues. The organisations we help during CAP days are always so grateful, as every task we do takes a weight off their shoulders.”

Amey James, owner and founder of Happy Pants Ranch, told SFM News: “We rely on the hard work of volunteers to provide facilities for hundreds of animals. Without their support, it would be difficult to continue giving our animals the quality of life they deserve. We loved having SGN with us for the day and can’t thank them enough for the work they did with us.”