Last month we launched and shared our Tingdene Group Core Values which will be used as a foundation for our expectations and interactions with our colleagues, customers and stakeholders across the business.

To bring them to life, each month we will be shining a spotlight on one of these values, exploring what it means for us as a business and how we see it in action every day.

This month, we begin with a value that sits right at the heart of our mission statement: Community.

 
 
 
 

What does ‘Community’ mean to us?

When we say “creating communities that we can be proud of” we are talking about the connections that are forged and built over a period of time on each site between team members, owners, occupiers, members of the public and our environment. By operating a residential park, holiday park or marina, we have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the people and environment around us.

We have shared some examples of what colleagues have described as ‘community’ and what it means to them:

  • The foundation for creating a loyal team and customer base by authentically and consistently showing care and compassion.

  • We like to build a community feel with the owners, with owners events and a friendly approach whilst out on Park.

  • We offer a community based feel and environment for our berthholders which differentiates us from our competitors.

  • There is a real community feel amongst many of our owners on the Park.

  • Bringing people together.

How we see ‘Community’ in action

Communities in action is something we see every day at Tingdene. It is there in the greeting between fellow team members on arrival to work. It is built through interactions between a park or marina manager with an owner or berthholder. Communities are fostered in the relationships we build with those around us and the pride we take in creating places that people want to be. Our community also extends beyond our sites, into the wider world around us.

Earlier this year, many of you joined us for the Forget Me Not Charity Walk, held in memory of our founder, Matthew Gibbard. It was a day filled with sunshine, connection, and remembrance and a wonderful example of our Tingdene community

We also supported the local Northampton Rowing Club, helping them to invest in new boats and equipment for their growing community of rowers. Seeing one of the boats we sponsored already being used by young athletes is a powerful reminder of how our support can help strengthen local communities and encourage the next generation.

These are just two recent examples of the many ways Tingdene Group gets involved year after year, whether it’s supporting charities, partnering with local organisations, or giving our time to initiatives that bring people together. Community is not a one-off act for us, but an ongoing commitment.

How do you impact your ‘Community’?

As a business, we want to support initiatives whereby you can impact your community. Each colleague has an additional paid day each year to dedicate to volunteering in their local community. Some of you have already taken up this opportunity, and it’s been inspiring to see the photos and stories you’ve shared of the brilliant work you’ve been part of.

One recent example comes from Ian Monroe, our Residential Parks Operations Manager, who spent their community day at the RSPCA Visitors Centre in Rushden, helping prepare the site for its grand opening. What started with a pot of royal blue paint (and a bit of a Smurf-like transformation!) quickly turned into a creative family effort, as Ian’s daughter joined to help design and paint animal murals on the centre’s walls. The result was something unique, personal, and hugely appreciated by the team at the RSPCA.

Stories like this are a brilliant reminder that giving our time and skills, however simple, can make a lasting difference. They also show how our value of Community is lived out in very real and personal ways.

If you haven’t yet used your community day, consider how you might spend it, whether supporting a local charity, giving back to a cause close to your heart, or joining in one of our wider Tingdene Group initiatives.

Why does it matter?

By focusing on our communities, we are building trust, fostering relationships and making a conscious and deliberate impact. It is through our intent that colleagues, owners and berthholders all become part of our Tingdene Group story.

Thank you for being a part of it.