A volunteering drive brought housing colleagues together to improve neighbourhoods and support community groups across County Durham.
During September, not-for-profit housing association believe housing encouraged employees across the organisation to join The Great Giveback.
Some took part in activities to improve neighbourhoods by painting garage blocks in Peterlee and joining a clean-up in Coundon.
Others volunteered with local groups, helping at breakfast and lunch clubs in Durham and Bowburn, working in a community garden in Peterlee, supporting an eco market and a creative group in Bishop Auckland, maintaining bike trails in Hamsterley Forest, and painting East Durham Veterans Trust’s new base at The Glebe Centre in Murton.
Rachel Edmunds, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at believe housing, said: “The Great Giveback gave colleagues the chance to support local groups and make a visible difference in our communities.
“Across three weeks, 58 colleagues took part in nine activities, giving 171 hours to the places and groups that matter to our customers.
“People found it rewarding and a great way to meet people from different teams and try something new. We hope everyone enjoyed taking part and feels inspired to volunteer again.”
In Coundon, believe housing colleagues were joined by volunteers from contractor RE:GEN North East and Destro Landscape for a day of action. Together, 21 people carried out a litter pick, cleared overgrown bushes and removed six skips of bulky waste.
David Taylor, Assistant Director of Assets at believe housing, said: “RE:GEN is improving around 200 of our homes in Coundon, with new roofs, solar panels and energy efficiency upgrades supported by the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund.
“We care about the communities we operate in, so while working on homes here we also want local people to feel the benefit. With fantastic support from our partners, we gave the area a real boost, improving its kerb appeal and delivering something over and above the day job.”
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