Leading UK contractor brings volunteer programme to Birmingham.
Charities, community groups and children’s centres across Birmingham have been reaping the benefits of a major week-long volunteering event led by national construction, property services and residential development business, Wates Group.
Bringing teams together from its 4,000 employees nationwide, and with the support of its 15,000-strong supply chain, Wates people working on sites in Birmingham and from its local office in Quinton swapped their days jobs to spend time volunteering to support their local communities during Wates Reshaping Tomorrow Week.
The week is a fundamental part of Wates Group’s Reshaping Tomorrow programme, in which the company is committed to investing in, and developing, more sustainable communities. Wates recently handed over Regal (West Point) Ltd’s new residential building, The Bank, and is currently delivering major housing repairs and maintenance on behalf of Birmingham City Council.
Themed Get out and about with Wates Reshaping Tomorrow Week, the volunteering efforts saw 4,000 employees supporting over 80 projects across the country to make a difference to the lives and aspirations of local people.
The Wates team joined forces with Birmingham City Council and Welcome Change, a charity working to support those overcoming substance misuse, to create a community garden for Glebe Farm Library in Stechford.
The week also saw ten volunteers donate a collective 60 hours to help renovate Queen Elizabeth Hospital, including site clearance and the laying of foundations for a new timber building as well as painting and decorating.
2018’s Reshaping Tomorrow campaign focused on the key issues of mental health and wellbeing, and also supported a number of environmental projects delivered through The Conservation Volunteers – Wates’ official charity partner. The week also encouraged people to support community projects and activities that are close to their hearts.
Jo Mackinnon, Chief Executive, Welcome Change, said: “This isn’t the first time we have been involved in a volunteer project of this scale with Wates and what has been achieved at the Glebe has exceeded our expectations. We are so grateful for the work done and I’d like to say a huge thank you to Wates for working with a local charity.”
John Dunne, Wates Group’s Safety Health Environment and Quality Director, commented: “As a family-owned business, we believe that business, done well, can be a force for good and the Wates Group leads the industry in its efforts to give back to the communities in which we work and live.
“This year we have focussed our efforts on improving wellbeing and mental health, a matter of huge importance for both our industry and society as a whole. It is absolutely vital that we take care of one another and this message really resonated throughout Reshaping Tomorrow week 2018.
“I am extremely proud of what has been achieved by everyone in our business and those people involved through our supply chain too. Taking time out of our day jobs to lend a helping hand reminds us of what can be achieved when we all work together for the wellbeing of others and this sense of pride is being felt across the business.”
Reshaping Tomorrow week is supported by the Wates Family Enterprise Trust through its charitable grant programme, Wates Giving, which supports over 250 initiatives a year and has donated over £12 million to charitable activities since it launched in 2008.
