Employees from The Royal Bank of Scotland (“RBS”) have taken a “bank holiday” to help St Giles Hospice.

The company held a team-building event at the hospice, which cares for local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses, during which staff took part in a variety of activities in the charity’s gardens.

Two teams from the St Philips Place, Birmingham office went head to head in a friendly ‘sand-off’, racing against the clock to make picnic tables and garden benches look as good as new.

Meanwhile, others got stuck into digging, weeding and pruning to ensure the gardens are kept looking their best for patients.

“We were lucky to have a sunny day – but I did have my wellies ready!” says Robin Halsall, from RBS. “I have never done anything like this before but my colleagues and I had a great time getting stuck in to help improve the hospice garden.”

The bank approached the hospice with the suggestion of volunteering and Peter Holliday, St Giles Hospice’s Chief Executive, was only too happy to oblige.

He says: “It’s a great opportunity for businesses to try a different team-building activity with staff, and although we have over 600 volunteers who work on a regular basis for the charity, we always need extra support.”

To request further information about holding team-building activities at the hospice, please contact Hilary Taylor on 01543 432031.

St Giles Hospice is a registered charity offering high-quality medical and nursing care for people with cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as providing support for their families and carers.

Patients come from across the hospice’s catchment area, which ranges from Ashby de la Zouch and Atherstone in the east, to Cannock and Walsall in the west – and from Burton and Uttoxeter in the north, to Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill in the south.

Care is offered at the hospice's facilities in Sutton Coldfield and Whittington between Lichfield and Tamworth, or in patients' own homes across the region.

St Giles spends over £5million every year providing its specialist services. With just a third of this funded by the Government, the registered charity relies heavily on donations and fundraising.