Apprentices volunteer to revitalise community hall

Young volunteers pulled on their overalls and picked up their paintbrushes to help redecorate a community hall.

The volunteers, apprentices with the First Ark Group, helped paint the hall at Knowsley Housing Trust’s South Avenue sheltered scheme in Prescot which is used regularly by the residents for coffee mornings, bingo and a range of other activities.

All 17 apprentices from across the Group took part to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2013 (from March 11 to 15) and illustrate what apprentices can offer.

The community hall was in need of updating and they were able to give it a new coat of paint throughout.

Chris Doyle, a resident of the scheme, said: “The centre feels much more cheerful and we are very happy with the outcome. They only took two days to decorate the whole centre so we only missed one bingo session!”

The First Ark Group has launched a major new volunteering initiative that will see the organisation give over 500 working days each year to allow employees to take part in schemes like this that give back to the local community.

Laura McCumiskey, who works in the Social Responsibility team at First Ark, said: “This project has improved the centre for the residents and also brought the apprentices together to work as a team.

“It shows the vast range of skills and the enthusiasm apprentices can bring and the contribution our employees can make to the local area through our volunteering initiative that can improve lives and opportunities in Knowsley.”

Affordable warmth apprentice Tony See, aged 17, said: “I wanted to take part in the volunteering scheme because it gives me the chance to give something back to the community and to make a difference.

“My apprenticeship has helped me gain a lot of confidence, new skills and qualifications while being in a work environment.”