STAFF at a healthcare firm have taken on a massive volunteering challenge, completing three projects in one day.

A total of 45 workers from Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare, which has a base in Birkenshaw, rolled up their sleeves and gave up an afternoon last week to support three charities in a simultaneous makeover challenge.

The first project was a makeover of Frizinghall Community Centre, which works with a wide range of community groups, hosting events such as trampoline classes to improve mental health and posture, to a mini music festival to celebrate the national Great Get Together in memory of Jo Cox MP.

It also provides a host of activities for young people as well as lunches for older people.

The Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare team spruced up the meeting spaces at the community centre with a painting makeover and provided a new external noticeboard to boost the marketing of the centre.

The second challenge was at Anchor’s Ashcroft Care Home in Undercliffe. In partnership with older residents, the volunteers built a train out of pallets to create an accessible, raised flowerbed garden.

It was designed to engage residents and provide an interactive space for them to care for and enjoy.

Finally, in Calverley, staff had the afternoon to complete a further garden makeover, transforming a raised garden area for 24 disabled residents at Champion House, a home run by the disability charity Leonard Cheshire.

Bradford Volunteer Centre, a local volunteering development agency which supports thousands of Bradford’s residents into volunteering, was involved in setting up the challenge.

Jeremy Taylor, sales director from Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare, who led the team, said: “We are swapping PCs for paintbrushes and trowels to give a much-needed makeover to these three amazing, local community groups.

“At Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare our mission is to ‘enhance the quality of life of the people we touch’ and what better way to do this than to be involved in these brilliant projects.

“This was our first time working with Dave and his team at the Bradford Volunteer Centre and we are really grateful for all his support, passion and expertise.”

Bradford Volunteer Centre director Dave Forrest said: “Drive DeVilbiss’s commitment to helping staff to volunteer not only provides a great way of team building but also the opportunity to see first-hand what is really going on in our community at a grassroots level.

“For the first time three community makeovers took place simultaneously and not only were the staff putting something back in terms of their time but also in terms of expertise and resources.

“It is all part of Bradford’s People Can Make a Difference campaign and we are very keen to develop relationships with employers locally, as we know the amazing benefits that can be gained from us all working together.”

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