RockCorps Volunteers Transform Flower Pod Southwell
Flower Pod, Volunteer April 10th, 2026
Last week, Flower Pod Southwell welcomed a brilliant team of Nottingham RockCorps volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to improving our outdoor space. Through a full day of hard work, volunteers transformed three areas of the garden, creating welcoming and accessible spaces for the people we support to enjoy. The impact of the day was immediate and hugely positive.
The next day, clients’ and staff members’ faces were full of smiles upon seeing the new working areas: ‘Alpine Garden’, ‘Reflection Garden’ and ‘Home from Home Garden’.
RockCorps is built on a simple but powerful idea: give your time to a local charity and earn a ticket to an unforgettable live music event. After contributing their time across 22 Nottinghamshire community projects, 2,500 volunteers came together last night at Rock City for a celebration gig.
The line-up showcased local talent with performances from Nottingham artists JayaHadaDream and LYVIA, followed by a headline set from Tinie Tempah, who delivered an energetic mix of well-known tracks and new material.
The event brought together Ed Attenborough, HM High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, RockCorps CEO Stephen Greene CBE, the RockCorps project team, charity partners, business supporters including Experian, and the thousands of volunteers who chose to give their time to support organisations like ours.
The atmosphere was uplifting and proud, with a rolling screen displaying the names of every volunteer and images from the projects they had supported. Representing Reach were staff members Tracey Thurlow, Projects & Participation Manager, Sarah Wagstaff, Carers Manager and Sharon Card, Finance Director alongside volunteers and Jamie, one of the people we support, who had a fantastic evening and thrived in the incredible atmosphere.
We would like to say a sincere thank you to RockCorps and everyone involved for the opportunity, energy and commitment shown throughout the project. The improvements made at Flower Pod Southwell will be enjoyed for years to come, and the initiative was a reminder of just how powerful, impactful and positive community action can be.
If you are interested in volunteering for Reach Learning Disability, please do get in contact with Wayne our Volunteer Manager by emailing wayne.wilmot@reachuk.org or phoning 01636 819066. Fancy a similar volunteering day for your workplace or community group? Find out more about what we can offer here.