We were invited by our trusted team build supplier GOTO Events to their showcase event in London. The focus was on CSR challenges and activities and this was working with Sleep Pod to build some sleeping pods for the homeless. The event was held at The Leonardo Royal Hotel, St Pauls.
Sleep Pod:
We learnt the back story of Ian – founder of Sleep pod. Ian has a construction business and wanted to help the homeless. He started off helping in the French refugee camps. This changed his whole outlook on life. He wanted to do more for the homeless. He and his construction team along with a homeless charity come up with the sleep pod. This sleep pod can save a person’s life. Also, with the money they raise, they go out to prisons, young offenders and communities and get them to build the pods too. There has been some brilliant feedback from this too!
If you book the sleep pod activity, all proceeds will go towards buying the materials. The delegates will then be directed by Ian and his team on how to build them. It is a brilliant team building activity that encourages you to communicate, listen to ideas, be proactive, laugh and have fun all while you are doing something which makes a difference.
The Activity & Challenge:
We started the day with networking. We were then put into teams. We were asked to do some activities as an icebreaker as many of us did not know each other. After this a member from each team had to put their hand in a bucket of cold water for 1 minute. They then had to tie a shoelace. This was to give us an insight on how difficult things are for a homeless person when sleeping rough in low temperatures.
After this we went to the large ball room where we had to complete several activities to earn materials to make the sleeping pod. The first was the bamboo run. Each team member had a some bamboo, we then had to roll a marble down the bamboo onto the next person’s piece of bamboo and we had to continue to do this until we reached a bucket to empty the marble into. Should you drop the marble, you have to go back to the start.
I am pleased to say that my team came second...!
Our second activity was to find an item which a homeless person might need by answering a riddle and finding the item.
The third activity was material matters. We had a list of items which a rough sleeper would find the most useful and some they wouldn’t. We then had prioritise each item in order.
The last activity consisted of 3 tasks – each person had to put on some clothes, take them off for the next person to do the same. The next activity you had to run to the end of the course pick up a tooth brush with chopsticks and bring it back. The next person had to run and pick up toothpaste (not an easy task). The last task a member of the team had to draw a tent whilst the whiteboard was on their head.
After all of these activities each team got to build a sleep pod. A presentation was played with Ian demonstrating and directing us stage by stage on how to build the shelter. The Sleep Pod team were also on hand to give advice, guidance and help. Ian also explained the importance of the materials – insulation, duct tape (to attach everything together and ensure it is sealed and waterproof and silver tape for extra insulation. There is also a sleep pod cover to ensure these pods don’t stand out and keeps the homeless person safe and concealed.
Summary:
This was a real feel good and heartwarming activity. The activities were fun as well as working as a team. Most of all, I felt blessed to being part of something that will potentially save someone’s life and to make a real difference.
To find out more about Sleep pod. take a look at their website – www.sleeppod.org.uk
Would you like a discussion on challenges and activities for your team or company focussed towards CSR?
Let's discuss your next event, get in touch. We’d be more than happy to talk through it.
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