Apprentices and graduates from Stratford-based housing association, L&Q, took time away from their day jobs to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in with clearing up a play and youth hub for local children.
Nine members of L&Q’s Early Talent cohort spent an action-packed day at Newham’s Glyn Hopkin Abbey Hub, varnishing picnic benches, cutting back overgrown shrubs and climbers, tidying raised flower beds, and clearing out a greenhouse.
The popular greenhouse and gardening areas are now ready for children to plant this season’s seeds and bulbs.
Glyn Hopkin Abbey Hub is owned and managed by Ambition Aspire Achieve, a local charity for children and young people in Newham and surrounding areas, including those with disabilities or additional needs.
Located within a fenced footprint just off Stratford High Street and Abbey Lane, facilities include a multi-activity space, soft play area, computer room and training space, outdoor play structures, tree houses, den building space, and a gardening area.
Debbie Collier, Talent Development assistant, said: “Ambition Aspire and Achieve does amazing work with young people in Newham, a key borough that L&Q operates in.
“It was a fun and productive day and we left with achy backs but big smiles knowing that we had made a difference.”
Jonny Boux, chief executive of Ambition Aspire and Achieve: “Thank you to L&Q’s team of volunteers.
“The end result for the hub is brilliant and will help us in our mission to provide experiences and opportunities that will help vulnerable children flourish and grow in confidence.”
The activity was part of L&Q’s volunteering programme, which encourages volunteering amongst employees and aims to empower people in L&Q’s neighbouring communities to thrive and achieve their potential.
Staff from the charitable housing association are entitled to up to 21 hours volunteering per year, with more than 90 taking part in a volunteering day last year.
The programme allows colleagues to try their hands at activities that differ from their day-to-day work.
From working with supply chain partners to source equipment for a local school, to cleaning and greening outdoor areas in Hackney– volunteering hours can be used at a charity of their choice.
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