Park Royal

Teams of volunteers from 9 companies located in the Park Royal area of West London are set to tackle – “Ground Force” style - seventeen separate projects for charity this week during the third annual ‘Action Day’ initiative organised by Park Royal Partnership.

Armed with paintbrushes, garden hoes, and the determination to do a great job, volunteers from RBS Hammersmith, Brixton Plc, Greencore, Ealing EBP (Education Business Partnership), Hillingdon Business Partnership, EzGov Europe, All Gardening, Bestway and Park Royal Partnership itself will work all day to help enhance the premises and surroundings of local schools and charities.

The seventeen different projects being tackled during the mass team-working initiative include the clearing and re-bedding of the Samaritan’s garden at Roundwood Park, Brent by a team from property developers Brixton plc; Greencore and Bestway working in partnership to brighten up a small garden in Wembley used by Indian charity Mathematics for meetings and play sessions; and the re-branding and redecoration of Age Concern’s ‘Healthy Living’ café in Acton, which is being undertaken by a team from Park Royal Partnership.

Other projects include:

•       RBS Hammersmith weeding and replanting Age Concern’s garden area and clearing their car park at their premises in Acton
•       The creation of a child friendly back garden and a vibrant rainbow focused entrance to reflect the inspirational North Hanwell Baptist Church carried  by All Gardening
•       An exhausting ‘hack and slash’ job in St John Ambulance’s overgrown garden at their training centre in Ealing by a team from Park Royal Partnership
•       Brixton Plc dismantling an old climbing frame and repainting a garden wall for the Kensal Green Under Fives
•       The clearance of a Quad garden and creation of an outdoors quiet area at the Viking Community Association by Ealing EBP
•       Brixton Plc clearing, weeding and replanting “front, back and side gardens” for Age Concern Hammersmith and Fulham
•       A large, creative garden project for The Mission Dine Club in Brent by EzGov Europe (facilitated by Brent Active Citizen Project).
•       'Painting and Decorating at Mind in Brent' by a Park Royal Partnership team made up of PRW working in partnership with BBV

Such has been the great response that some organisations, including Brixton Plc and Park Royal Partnership, will be entering three teams each this year.

Alan Coates, chairman, Park Royal Partnership comments, “We have had a fantastic response from local companies keen to assemble teams to make a real contribution to the ongoing regeneration of the local area.  Technically, the Action Day actually takes place over two days because we have received such an enthusiastic response from volunteers as well as from charities and schools nominating some very worthwhile projects”.

As well as making a real difference to the local area, volunteering companies find a number of benefits in taking part.  Their staff benefit from the excellent team building opportunities, not to mention the motivation and pride in making a real difference. The team leaders benefit from invaluable hands-on project management experience.  Finally, the company benefits from participating in something that supports their positive profile within the community, as well as heightening awareness of their services.

Rosanna Henderson, the Action Day co-ordinator for Park Royal Partnership, comments, “The pieces of this enormous jigsaw puzzle have come together remarkably well thanks to a huge amount of goodwill from everyone involved and some very valuable partnerships with organisations such as Ealing CVS, BRAVA, Community Safety Advisory Service, London Action Trust, Hammersmith & Fulham Volunteer Centre, Hillingdon Business Forum and Brent Active Citizen Project, who have all skilfully assisted us in identifying and working with the companies volunteering this year.  Other organisations have contributed in other ways:  Quattro (UK) Ltd are contributing skips for clearance of waste, B&Q are helping to subsidise the cost of materials used, and Kolak Snack Foods Ltd will provide some sustenance for the volunteers”.

The Action Day requires teams to complete each project over the course of one single day, and participating companies are requested to cover the cost of materials for completing their chosen task and grant their staff the time off to participate.  All projects are within the London Boroughs of Ealing, Brent and Hammersmith & Fulham. 

Park Royal Partnership’s Action Day takes place during 28-29 September 2006.