Colourful make over, inside and out, for Salvation Army family centre

Residents at a Salvation Army centre which provides support and accommodation for vulnerable families will be able to make use of an improved outside area and renovations thanks to the hard work of 14 employee volunteers from a local business.

Volunteers from Carillion Plc spent a day painting four corridors of The Salvation Army’s Catherine Booth House which is home to 21 families. The colours were chosen by the residents, and the volunteers gave the garden a makeover, so that the families could enjoy being outside. The project was facilitated by responsible business charity Business in the Community.

Outside the garden has been cleared, fences have been painted, and planting troughs put in place. The volunteers have also put up fences along the length of the car park. An area will then be turfed at the end of the summer.

Catherine Booth House is a centre for families who are deemed to be unintentionally homeless and in need of high support. The Salvation Army works closely with a range of agencies including children and adult social care and housing to help support families to be able to maintain their own tenancy by helping them gain the life skills needed.

Gillian Suckley, Service Manager at the centre in St Paul's Road, Southsea, said: “We are delighted that, thanks to these dedicated volunteers from Carillion Plc, our centre has been given a lick of paint and that the gardens have been improved for the enjoyment of the people living here. At The Salvation Army we are dedicated to caring for people who are vulnerable or in need in Portsmouth, and at Catherine Booth House, we work with families to  equip them with the life skills needed to enable them to maintain their own tenancy, as well as offering compassionate support and a listening ear. This work by these volunteers will mean that our families will be able to enjoy our gardens at their best and we really are grateful for the volunteers’ time and support.”

Tracy Nocetti, General Manager Environment & Logistics at Carillion said: “Today has provided a great opportunity for staff to work together in achieving something that will benefit the community. It’s been great to work with everyone involved in the project and I can’t wait to return and see the area in use.”

Following completion of the work residents will be able to enjoy and maintain the areas which have been improved as they work towards living independently again.

Carillion’s contractors including Southern Windows, Parkshield, Floratec, and Brewers of Farlington also supported the project.