Who We Are - Dan
Dan Riddle and the team at Taunton Delivery Office have been truly exceptional over the past few months, not only coping admirably with the challenges of Covid-19 during lockdown, but also helping to raise more than £5,000 for their local NHS charity, Love Musgrove.
Our Who We Are campaign celebrates people like Dan – key workers connecting communities, before and during the Covid-19 pandemic – and beyond as well. Over the coming months, we’ll be recognising people at the heart of our business, across the pipeline, as they describe who they are in their own words.
We want to receive nominations from around the Group for deserving colleagues to be recognised in this way. Send yours to groupcommunications@royalmail.com
Look out for coverage of Who We Are on RMtv, in Courier, your unit’s tv screens and, of course, here on myroyalmail.com.
By holding ‘Blue Fridays’ where colleagues were invited to wear blue clothing in support of NHS workers, MPU manager, Dan Riddle led the way in helping to bring a bit of cheer to the office, which has appeared on national television on two occasions as well as featuring in the local press after the team gave one young customer, 12-year-old Creech Heathfield resident, Ella Bale, her ‘best day’ by donning fancy dress and delivering her parcels in convoy.
‘As well as our Blue Fridays, which we did every Friday during lockdown, we also had the team out delivering in different costumes every day and collecting donations for Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton,’ said Dan.
‘The £5,000 we managed to raise was way above what we expected. What we also didn’t expect was just how much the costumes made customers smile – they absolutely loved it.
‘The campaign had a great impact, not only in terms of our fundraising, but also with morale in the office. It really brought a buzz, both to the team and to our customers, who were right in the middle of lockdown at that point.
‘It was great to be involved and do something positive in the community of Taunton. We’re a big employer in the area and I think it’s important that Royal Mail are seen to be doing something good in the community.
‘We also had our “Bring your own CD into work” idea, which has always worked well in the past. Colleagues can bring in their own choice of music and pay two pounds to have it played during the morning. However, others can also pay £5 to have it switched off! Not only is it great fun, but it always generates a good amount for fundraising.
‘We have just started our “Sporty September” fundraising campaign, which involves football cards and “Football Shirt Friday’s” as well as a few competitions in the office. And we’re hoping to raise money in December, when the team will be out on delivery dressed as elves, so that we can afford to pay for Christmas meals for the homeless in Taunton.
‘I’m incredibly proud of my team for everything they did during lockdown. The team here are all committed to their job and their community and I’m proud of the passion they have to see this office succeed.
‘I have been with Royal Mail for 13 years this December having started out as a part-time postman in Weston Super Mare, when I used to cycle out to Weston Hillside every day, which I obviously couldn’t do now. It was only meant to be for a few months over Christmas, but I loved the job and then wanted to progress.
‘I started covering managerial roles in Weston before I got the chance to go to Avonmouth as a singleton delivery office manager (DOM). I then went back to Weston Super Mare as DOM. In between, I’ve supported units, such as Bristol East and have also covered an operations manager role. I came to Taunton 14 months ago. I love my job, particularly when I’m able to support people through change and celebrate success.’
