A café in Bracknell has been spruced up for summer after a host of young local volunteers delivered a colourful makeover - and gained hands-on trade experience at the same time.
Housing association Abri and its building materials supplier Travis Perkins Managed Services (TPMS) joined forces to help fund and deliver the project for the Look In Café in Great Hollands Square.
The café serves affordable food and drinks and provides a space for local people to socialise. It has been in its current location since 2013, and it was recently redecorated by a group of young people from Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), an organisation supporting young people who are struggling in education or out of work by providing on-the-job training.
The volunteers were involved in painting, decorating and sanding, and they were guided by experienced trade professionals every step of the way, with the completed space now serving as a vibrant hub for residents.
Michelle Smith, Social Value Manager at Travis Perkins Managed Services, said: "Partnering with our customer Abri to help rejuvenate the Look In Café has been a great project to be involved in.
"It has not only made the café a more welcoming place for the local community, but the young volunteers from VIY have gained valuable experience from completing the work.
"Seeing the café transformed and knowing it happened through hands-on learning for someone is what the social value programme at TPMS is all about.
"Who knows what the opportunity might lead to for the young volunteers, but it is great to be able to help them unlock their potential, and it is exactly the kind of impact we want to have in the communities we serve."
The work on the Look In Café could just be the start for the volunteers as VIY are City & Guilds accredited meaning they can go on to complete entry-level qualifications through their volunteering.
Olivia Morris, Community Investment Area Manager at Abri, said: "Creating social value is extremely important to Abri, and projects like this show the difference it can make in communities like Great Hollands.
"The Look in Café is a vital local space that we've supported for some time, not just offering affordable food and a community pantry, but as a safe and welcoming place for people to come together.
"The café looks much brighter now, and I can't wait to see the renovation fully finished once the new furniture arrives. It was great to work closely with VIY and Travis Perkins Managed Services to make this project become a reality. The young volunteers and the VIY mentors have done a fantastic job they should be proud of."
