The front entrance to the revamped ASDA store in Downpatrick.[/caption]
Refurbishment of the popular Asda Downpatrick store is almost complete and the store fully re-opened on 21 September.
The new-look store includes a pizza counter and the re-opening of the popular fish counter.
Community is at the heart of Asda, and with that in mind and to coincide with the new store launch, Down News has interviewed Asda’s Downpatrick’s Community Life Champion to learn more about her role and how she will be supporting the local community in the weeks ahead.
Asda Downpatrick Community Life Champion Profile. Name: Andrea McQuoid. Store: Downpatrick.
Briefly tell us about Asda’s Community Life Initiative and what it involves. The Community Life Initiative is a big focus for Asda and we really live by it, aiming to make the area around the Downpatrick store a better place to live and work for Asda colleagues and customers alike.
We really want all of our customers to get involved too so our in-store meeting room space is open for local community groups and organisations to use free of charge.
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ASDA Downpatrick Community Champion Andrea McQuoid.[/caption]
We are also here to provide support and guidance, so if a member of the local community requires advice or help with fundraising, an in-store event or maybe wants to volunteer their help, then get in touch!
How long have you worked for Asda? How long have you worked as Community Life Champion? I’ve been working in Asda for nearly two years now having first started in November 2013. My sister-in-law was already working at the store and loved it, so I thought I’d apply. When I heard about the Community Life Champion role I knew it was for me straight away.
Why did you apply for the post? I’ve always had a passion for volunteering and I have worked as a Scout Leader in my local club for over seven years now. I thought the role as Community Life Champion would be a fantastic opportunity to engage further with the local community in and around Downpatrick and to help to make a difference in my own area.
What does your role entail? As part of my role as Community Life Champion, I am responsible for helping to maintain and build a strong and lasting relationship between Asda Downpatrick and the local community. As a result, I spend a great deal of time out and about, getting to know the people that live around Downpatrick and interacting and engaging with community groups and local charities. It is always wonderful to get to meet and support such a wide variety of individuals and organisations which are helping to make a real difference in the local area.
It is also my responsibility to coordinate in-store events, awareness initiatives and fundraising campaigns to inspire our colleagues and customers to get involved in community work. It is a demanding job but highly rewarding and I am very fortunate to have a fantastic team of colleagues around me, which makes it a real pleasure.
What specific skills do you need? Firstly, you must have a genuine interest in helping your local community. In particular, you need to be prepared to give up your time to help others. A positive attitude and a desire to give something back goes a long way with this role!
What projects are you currently working on? With the Downpatrick store reopening in the next few weeks we’ve been busy getting everything ready for launch day (21st September!) I’ll be hosting a very special pizza party for a local school as part of the re-opening of the store to showcase our great new pizza counter. October is typically a very busy month for us as its Breast Cancer Awareness month. Last year the Downpatrick store raised more funds for Tickled Pink than any other Asda in NI – so we’ll be looking to build on this in October.
What are the most memorable projects you have worked on? One of the best things about my job is learning about local community groups that ordinarily I wouldn’t have the chance to meet. Recently, I’ve become involved with ‘Good Morning Down,’ a local telephone care and befriending service for vulnerable or at risk adults which tackles social exclusion and isolation by actually calling people for a friendly chat each morning. I’ve helped the group organise bag packs and in-store face-painting to raise funds for the group and it’s great to play a part in supporting an important service like this.
What do you enjoy most about your role? One of the best things about my job is the people I meet and work with. I now have a network of groups and individuals that I have met through my work which has really made me feel like an active part of my community.
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