Making a Difference, One Step at A Time

At Roq, Charity work is important to us, so the charities that we support and community activities we are involved in are a team decision. 

For some time now, we’ve had a dedicated and diverse team of Community Ambassadors from across the business. 

Meeting on a regular basis to discuss all possible fundraising opportunities, nominated charities and upcoming events. Our fantastic team of Ambassadors focus on arranging a variety of events and activities that are inclusive and allow everyone to contribute to the causes that matter to them. 

We believe that this collaborative approach benefits us, just as much as it benefits the charities we support, and everyone feels that they’re making a very real difference. 

Here at Roq we like to do as much as we can for the community, and our team of Community Ambassadors come up with ways in which we can raise money to help support charity and community initiatives throughout the year. One of the ways we do this is by promoting various challenges and events, and in this blog specifically, I will be talking about Roq’s step challenges.  

WHY WE DO STEP CHALLENGES AND THE BENEFITS

Step challenges are a popular activity between our colleagues because they provide a wide range of benefits, both personal and public. They are excellent for improving our fitness and health, offering a simple yet effective way to enhance health and boost mood. As a company we try to align these challenges with events (either national or local), allowing participants to engage in community efforts and give them a chance to do something different outside of work.  

Some of the main benefits as to why we do walking/step challenges within Roq are; as well as boosting our moods and health, it allows us to raise money for charities, supporting important causes and strengthening community bonds. They also introduce friendly competition, bolstering employee engagement, teamwork, and morale.  

Some of the main examples of walking challenges that Roq have completed over the past years include: 

• 60,000 Trinity Step Challenge 

• Red January  

• March the Month 

• From Roq to Ayres Rock Challenge 

60,000 TRINITY STEP CHALLENGE

In 2021, Roq participated in the Trinity £50 Challenge. The idea of this was to start with £50 and then use this in different ways to help raise as much money as possible against other companies. As part of this effort, several team members undertook an extraordinary challenge to walk 60,000 steps in a single day (which approximately equated to the distance between Roq’s Chorley office, and Trinity Hospice). Despite the hot conditions, members of Roq from all over the UK successfully completed this feat within 24 hours. Originally, the plan was to walk collectively as a group from our Roq office in Buckshaw to Trinity Hospice in Blackpool, but due to Covid restrictions, each team member completed this individually and some even documented their journey on Microsoft Teams and social media. The dedication and perseverance displayed by those involved was truly remarkable, and the sense of achievement upon completing the challenge was palpable. This tremendous effort contributed to the overall fundraising success, with a total of £3,860 raised for the Trinity £50 Challenge, significantly supporting the hospice's invaluable work. 

RED JANUARY

Red January is an annual challenge we compete in and a great way for us to start the new year, and encourages participants to get active every day, whether it's through walking, running, cycling, or any other form of exercise. The goal is to combat the post-holiday blues, improve mental health, and foster a supportive community atmosphere. By setting daily activity goals, individuals can enhance their physical fitness while also raising awareness and funds for mental health charities.  

At Roq, individuals who wanted to take part signed up to the Red January site, where we could track progress and allowed us to compete for fun on an individual basis or as a team. At the end of the month (January 2024), 7 of the team managed to complete the 10,000 steps a day, and because of this (along with people averaging 10,000 per day over the month), the company raised an excellent £350 which was donated to Mind and will help fund mental health projects around the country.  

MARCH THE MONTH

"March the Month", a walking challenge designed to keep everyone moving and active throughout March. During March, employees strive to accumulate as many steps as possible. This collective effort not only promotes physical wellbeing but also boosts morale and team spirit. To add a meaningful incentive, we pledge to donate a specified amount to CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) if we reach our collective step goal by the end of March. This challenge not only enhances our physical health but also supports a vital cause, making each step we take significant in many ways. 

ROQ TO AYRES ROQ

A new challenge for 2024, and an exciting step challenge called the "Roq to Ayres Rock Challenge,". The goal was ambitious, to collectively walk the 9,000 + mile distance from our Roq office in Buckshaw to Ayres Rock in Australia. Despite the daunting target, our dedicated team managed to cover an impressive 4,650 miles, reaching as far as Dubai. This incredible effort not only highlighted our commitment to fitness and teamwork but also had a charitable component. By reaching this milestone, the company donated £100 to Mind charity. This contribution will aid Mind in their vital work, providing much-needed support to those struggling with mental health. 

These are just a few examples of some of the challenges that we take part in as a company. There are many more initiatives that have been completed, and more in the making for the future. It's all about ensuring that employee happiness is positive and that as a company we are collaborating with our local community, helping others, and giving something back. 

If you'd like to learn more about a career at Roq and the community initiatives we take part in, please check out Why Choose Roq