An alliance of builders, sub-contractors, consultants and educators have joined forces to give a new lease of life to Swinnow Community Centre.
Designed to create a safe space for Swinnow resident, the community project included volunteers from Caddick Construction Group, Willmott Dixon and Pudsey-based M&E contractor, G&H, and a host of partners from across Leeds and the surrounding area.
Working with the centre’s Lucy and Will Munton, the team of 38 volunteers helped to transform the outdoor space to allow for more events and activities for local families. Work included clearing weeds and overgrown brambles to make way for new children’s play equipment and seating.
Completed over two days, the community project saw the team paint fences, re-plant flowerbeds, and clear and restore pathways. Volunteers also created a wheelchair accessible herb and vegetable garden to provide a fully inclusive community resource.
The project formed part of a wider social value investment programme by Willmott Dixon through its work to deliver 82 new affordable homes at Hough Top in Swinnow on behalf of Leeds City Council.
Caddick Construction Group supported the initiative as part of its work in Pudsey, which currently includes the construction of the new Pudsey Sixth Form College on behalf of Luminate Education Group.
The team of volunteers also included a local work experience student who has spent time with Caddick Construction at one of its Leeds-based projects through Bridge Builder, an initiative run by Leeds College of Building.
Paul Dodsworth, Group Managing Director at Caddick Construction Group, commented: “It is amazing to see what can be achieved when we all work together for a good cause. Our day jobs are important, but when we take our time to look around and see where we may be able to help our neighbours, we make a meaningful difference to people’s lives. That is the legacy we can have as builders, and I’m very proud of what the team has achieved.”
Chris Yates, Yorkshire Director at Willmott Dixon, said: “It’s been fantastic to see the local community come together to make a meaningful difference for families who use the community centre.”
“Supporting local organisations and communities in which we work in is at the heart of what we do, and in addition to this project as part of our work at Hough Top, we have spent over 47 hours engaging with local students, delivered 36 apprenticeship weeks and provided 65 hours’ worth of careers mentoring for young people aged under 24.”
Full list of organisations involved:
- Willmott Dixon – Volunteers, tools and financial donations
- G&H – volunteers
- Caddick – volunteers
- Caddick Civil Engineering – volunteers
- Leeds College of Building – volunteers
- Wernicks (cabin hire) – volunteers
- Beauparc – volunteers
- LSS Waste – skip donation x 2
- Atlas Green – top soil, mulch, weed membrane, loan of petrol strimmer and herb donation
- Forward Leeds – Volunteers
- We are Footprint – Volunteers and plant donation
- HVSS – Hire of mini digger and 2 operatives
- Ridings Design Consultants– Volunteers
- Gleeds – Volunteers
- Pick Everard – Volunteers
- VHE – Volunteers and tools
- Swinnow residents – volunteers
- Akzo Nobel – donations of all fence paint
Sponsored content
