Origin employees walk between 11 fertiliser facilities in aid of YANA

Walk to Wellness encouraged employees to record daily activities, such as walking the dog or cycling to work instead of driving. The route started at Origin’s most southerly site at Plymouth, in Devon, and moved north along the west coast sites of Avonmouth, Newport, Sharpness and Silloth.  

It then navigated clockwise around the three Scottish facilities – Ayr, Invergordon and Montrose – before heading east to Origin’s latest site at Port of Tyne, onto Immingham and Great Yarmouth, with the virtual route ending at the company’s Royston HQ. 

Origin donated £1 for every mile covered, with the total eventually reaching 1,762 miles by the end of the month. Mandy McAulay, Origin’s head of marketing and product sustainability, said that the idea was part of the Local and Vocal campaign.  

“The health benefits of exercise are well known, and we wanted to give our team a reason to get outdoors and do something for charity, whilst clearing their minds before or after work.  

“Our industry is intrinsically linked to the countryside, and, with an average distance between our sites of 134 miles, it was a fun challenge to see if we could collectively walk between them to highlight our proximity to farms.” 

Good cause

Origin’s 11 production facilities are strategically located around the country. This means a lower transport mileage for products and easier access to Origin’s range of prescription nutrition.  

Participants would have virtually walked over woodland, grass fields, maize crops and arable land, and through fields of Origin users. The additional miles covered above the target meant £144 was donated to two members of the team who were undertaking other charity events.  

Virginia Edgecombe, YANA trustee, said that the money raised by Origin will go towards vital work undertaken by the charity. 

“We are hugely grateful to all at Origin Soil Nutrition who have raised funds for us walking from site to site – it has helped us spread the message: You Are Not Alone. Some of the money can be used to fund up to nine sessions with a professionally qualified counsellor or invest in mental health first aid training and build a better understanding of mental health to reduce stigma.  

“YANA also runs a national suicide prevention campaign, so the funding will be used to help rural communities in the best way possible.”  

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