Moving forward will bring benefits for all
It’s often said that moving house is one of the most stressful experiences you can go through.
When it comes to moving offices, there are challenges too but careful planning, the right attitude and teamwork are key to a smooth transition.
Vibrance has recently moved to our new home, and we are now happily housed at The Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Green Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 9DA.
The move itself was very much like moving house. There was an element of sadness as we said ‘goodbye’ to our old offices, but excitement to be in our new surroundings.
It meant people packing up their belongings, transporting boxes and ensuring the switch was seamless for things like IT. But it also meant the next chapter in the Vibrance story, and as an organisation with an overwhelmingly positive outlook our need to move quickly changed from an unwanted nuisance to a very exciting adventure.
It was something I had discussed with our Senior Management Team some time ago. Following our merger with Haringey Association for Independent Living (HAIL) last year, and our 30th anniversary celebrations, we were keen that the next stage of our journey would see us in fit-for-purpose offices.
The Green House is a sustainable building with excellent transport links and our newer, more modern offices which are easily accessible – something that is very important to us as an organisation.
We are an organisation which requires an ‘agile’ workforce, by which I mean a way of working whereby our staff not only feel empowered to do their jobs to the best of their ability, but to do so in a flexible and supportive environment. So many of our staff now work remotely for part of their week which means less travelling and less stress. Our new office is around the same size as one floor at Caxton Place but is perfectly sufficient for our modern needs
We are in a busy, thriving part of London but also close to a number of parks and green spaces, where staff can take time out when they need to.
Whilst it felt strange to be leaving Redbridge, our borough of origin, it is worth remembering that we are now a serious and respected social care provider in 15 local authority/CCG areas with regional offices in Haringey, Southend, Bromley, Wandsworth and Lewes.
The offices are bright and friendly, which means when people pop in to see us (and they often do), they come into a warm and welcoming space.
Over the last 30 years we have had to adapt to the world around us, and we want our journey to continue at the right pace, so finding an office that suited us was an integral part of that. The owners of the offices only enter into agreements with companies that support social change and are also sustainable, forward-thinking organisations. This means our new ‘neighbours’ think like us too.
All of which means that, ultimately, this is about what’s best for those who use our services – the end users and their families, because we can continue to deliver those services in an environment which is open and honest.
While the past few weeks and months have been a very exciting time, it has been unbelievably hectic, and I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has done their bit – no matter how small – to make the move a success.
From the planning, to meeting the challenges we have faced to the first day in our new home, it has all only been achieved through teamwork and the right attitude.
Long may that continue.