Getting Started Guide Steps to making a Di� erence

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Bedrock (SCIO)A Scottish Charitable

Incorporated Organisation (SC043178)

BedrockHillside House

SalineDunfermline

KY12 9TD

E: info@bedrockcharity.orgT: 0300 456 4885

W: bedrockcharity.org

Getting started is often the hardest part of any new initiative. But with Bedrock, it’s simple

and straightforward; we are here to provide support throughout.

Five easy steps will enable you and your business colleagues to make a real di� erence.

Getting Started

Appoint your Early Years Project Team (EYPT)

Meet with your local Early Years Service Provider

Engage with your Employees

Prepare a simple 12 Month Plan

Get Started!

Bedrock will be on hand to supply you with free help, advice and materials (all we ask for is

the occasional cup of co� ee and a biscuit!). We all need a bit of help from time to time.

Appoint your Early Years Project Team (EYPT)

When your business engages with Bedrock, it is important to identify a

small team to coordinate the businesses involvement. This might just be

2 or 3 individuals and should consist of people who are keen to make

a di� erence. They should be people who are likely to be e� ective at

getting other members of the workforce involved too.

The EYPT will oversee projects, communicate plans and progress, liaise with your local

Early Years’ service provider, keep the workforce engaged, and generally keep things

running smoothly.

Selecting the right people for this team is a crucial � rst step.

Whilst it is always helpful to have a senior individual from

the business involved on the EYPT, we have also found that

ensuring a mix of skills and backgrounds works best. People

throughout the business will have di� erent social connections,

and this often helps to spread the word e� ectively and get

other sta� interested and involved. So, mix it up!

Time

It should be made clear at the outset how much time is available to the EYPT. The team

needs to have enough time to make a di� erence, but without materially impacting on

their primary job. As a rule of thumb, an average of half a day per month can

achieve a surprising amount. In our experience, individuals often choose to do

some additional work in their personal time too. Ultimately, it is up to the Senior

Management Team to decide on the time they make available to employees.

Business Resources

Businesses also have a wealth of resources to o� er – such as the use of printers,

stationery, meeting rooms, company vehicles and so on. The Senior Management should

decide on their use and limitations during sta� involvement on projects.

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Engaging as many colleagues as possible is fundamental to success. We

recommend that you hold a group sta� meeting, normally in your usual

workplace and hosted by the EYPT. It also helps if a senior member of the

Company introduces or “sponsors” the event to emphasise the genuine

commitment and support of the business to the Early Years. You can also

explain the rationale for the business involvement to the group at this time.

At this meeting, you can give an overview of the Early Years provider or initiative, a summary

of the EYPT visit, and explain some of

the relevant issues discussed. We would

recommend inviting the Early Years sta�

themselves to join the meeting to perhaps

speak or present to the audience directly.

The Bedrock team are happy to attend the

meeting if requested. We can provide you

with a template presentation to adapt as

you see � t. Keeping the event informal and

interactive helps. One of the key goals is not

just to motivate and inspire colleagues, but

also allow them to think of and identify practical initiatives with which they could get involved.

It is important to convey the message that everyone has something to o� er. Whether it is the

particular skills and expertise colleagues utilise at work, or (more frequently) their interests or

networks outside of work, you will be amazed how everyone can make a di� erence in one

way or another.

By the end of the event, as well as having had a group discussion of ideas, we would strongly

recommend that you ask for those individuals who are keen to help to identify themselves.

This public commitment to be involved really helps maximise longer term involvement once

the meeting has long passed. Sta� may also want to visit and see the Early Years work in

action for themselves. Remember to make clear who is on the EYPT, where to go to for

more information, and how to “sign up” if sta� are interested in further

involvement. Also be sure to provide clarity on what time the business is

willing to make available to employees who choose to get involved.

Bedrock will introduce you to a local Early Years service provider or a

group running an Early Years initiative. We will set up a meeting (usually

at their premises) at a convenient time. We will also come along to

introduce everyone and explain a bit more about your respective

organisations. (Co� ee and biscuits usually features heavily here!)

Seeing around the centre, or seeing the Early Years programme in action, is

often the most valuable part of this event. It is the best way to see � rst hand

exactly what work is going on and just what an impact it can make. There is

no strict agenda at this meeting. We have found that people usually identify

ideas and opportunities for help most easily by having a look around, learning about what

goes on, and discussing the challenges and issues being faced on a day to day basis.

Sometimes ideas and opportunities come from the most unlikely of discussions. Maybe

it’s a completely unrelated contact you know that might want to help, or one of your

colleagues who has an interest outside of work which could be useful. You just never

know until you meet, talk and share ideas.

Sometimes it takes a few visits and discussions to come up with the right ideas. At other

times it hits you right between the eyes! Either way, it is usually best to keep notes of

any key points, ideas, challenges or areas worthy of further exploration. With everyone’s

agreement and where

appropriate, it can also

be useful to take a few

photographs of the Early

Years “work in action”. These

can be incredibly powerful

when it comes to STEP …

Meet with your local Early Years Service Provider Engage with your employees

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It’s as easy as that!

Remember; keep your plans for

the � rst 12 months simple. Don’t be

overambitious to start with, there

will be plenty of opportunities to build activities over

time. Ensure the EYPT meets brie� y, fairly regularly,

to monitor progress and to keep your sta� up to date

with regular communications. Don’t let people slowly

forget about the good work you are supporting.

And, of course, don’t be shy in sharing your activities

with customers and suppliers alike. You may inspire

new people and businesses to help or get involved

themselves.

Bedrock is here to help, so stay in touch. Don’t be afraid to ask for

advice or support. As long as there are co� ee and biscuits, we’ll be

happy to help!

The EYPT should spend some time

working with the Early Years provider to

construct a 12 month plan and ensure

that everyone is in agreement.

Preparing the 12 month plan provides

senior management and sta� alike with a realistic guide to

what can be achieved within the year ahead. By this stage,

all employees should have had the chance to provide

ideas for involvement and contribute to the plan. Don’t forget to ask your own network

and contacts for help and support too. You will be amazed how keen many people and

companies are to help support a worthy cause, whether it be a bit of complimentary

printing or access to a facility. Don’t be afraid to ask! Once signed o� , you can then share

the plan with the wider workforce as you see � t.

Like any business plan, it should comprise realistic and achievable goals

and objectives. These don’t have to be extensive or complicated. One

or two simple

initiatives may

be all that are

required in the � rst 12 months.

There’s plenty of time to develop

more ideas later. To start with, keep

it easy and simple. Like any other

business plan, it never quite goes

exactly as intended! Some things

don’t turn out as planned, but

beginning with an outline of what

you would like to achieve, and

who is going to take responsibility

for the various parts, is as good

a place to start as any. Simple

is often best! Here is a quick

example for your information.

Prepare a Simple 12 Month Plan Get started!

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