Travis Perkins, which is part of Travis Perkins plc and is the UK’s largest distributor of materials to the construction sector, has announced its 100th tie-up with the Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) social enterprise, helping donate materials for the refurbishment of Charlton Park Rugby Club.

In total, 17 local young people volunteered across this month-long project, referred by organisations including the Construction Youth Trust, Amber Foundation, who support young people at risk of homelessness, and the local Royal Greenwich Council.

The project saw the renovation of female facilities at the club, the creation of an outdoor seating area and the repainting of the bar, moves aimed to make it more hospitable to serve the local community, who currently use the club as a local polling station and blood donor centre, and to support their financial resilience.

The initiative is helping more young people learn DIY skills and to consider a career in the construction and building industry. By donating materials and working locally with the VIY team Travis Perkins is able to strengthen local relationships, demonstrate positive social value, and do what matters for the community. The partnership contributes to at least five of Travis Perkins 12 commitments within its Responsibility strategy, Building for Better, including diversity and inclusion, people development, charity and community, colleague voice and engagement and safety and wellbeing.

The VIY programme combines DIY and volunteering and challenges young people to help repair and refurbish community facilities while learning vocational trade skills on the job, helping them become more employable in the construction sector. In addition to VIY, Travis Perkins is helping develop people through its Apprenticeship and Kickstart programmes too.

The refurbishment of Charlton Park Rugby Club is the 100th VIY project which Travis Perkins has supported through material donations, colleague volunteer time and work-readiness training for VIY young learners, since March 2020. Previous projects include transforming barren land into a kitchen garden at Mansfield’s West Nottinghamshire College and the building of two indoor skateparks for young people, including providing much-needed timber for LS-TEN in Leeds.

Steve Baldwin, Regional Director for Travis Perkins says: “We are delighted to have been able to support VIY again on their project at Charlton.The work that VIY does in encouraging young people to build up their confidence and learn practical skills is so important and fits well with our values as a business around caring, being the best and working together.We’re committed to investing in and developing the next generation workforce in the construction industry, and VIY provides a valuable link to young people looking at beginning a career within this sector.”

Ed Sellwood, COO and co-founder of VIY says: "We're truly grateful for the support of our trade partners like Travis Perkins who enable us to fulfil our renovation projects, having real impact on communities and building skills with young people on the ground. We're now looking forward to working closely together on employment, apprenticeship and volunteering opportunities to help build the next generation for young people, with Travis Perkins colleagues and customers.