Volunteers Join Together To Give Back To Leeds Community

A local alliance of builders, sub-contractors, consultants and educators have joined forces to give a new lease of life to a vital community resource near Pudsey, helping to transform Swinnow Community Centre into a thriving space for local people.

Designed to create a safe space for Swinnow, the community project included volunteers from Caddick Construction Group, Willmott Dixon and Pudsey-based M&E contractor, G&H, and a host of partners from across Leeds and the surrounding area*.

Working with centre owners, Lucy and Will Munton, the team of 38 volunteers helped to transform the outdoor space to allow for more events and activities for local families. Work included clearing weeds and overgrown brambles to make way for new children’s play equipment and seating.

Completed over two days, the community project saw the team paint fences, re-plant flowerbeds, and clear and restore pathways. Volunteers also created a wheelchair accessible herb and vegetable garden to provide a fully inclusive community resource.

The project formed part of a wider social value investment programme by Willmott Dixon through its work to deliver 82 new affordable homes at Hough Top in Swinnow on behalf of Leeds City Council.

Caddick Construction Group supported the initiative as part of its work in Pudsey, which currently includes the construction of the new Pudsey Sixth Form College on behalf of Luminate Education Group.

The team of volunteers also included a local work experience student who has spent time with Caddick Construction at one of its Leeds-based projects through Bridge Builder, an initiative run by Leeds College of Building.

Paul Dodsworth, Group Managing Director at Caddick Construction Group, commented:

“It is amazing to see what can be achieved when we all work together for a good cause. Our day jobs are important, but when we take our time to look around and see where we may be able to help our neighbours, we make a meaningful difference to people’s lives. That is the legacy we can have as builders, and I’m very proud of what the team has achieved.” Paul Dodsworth, Group Managing Director at Caddick Construction Group

Chris Yates, Yorkshire Director at Willmott Dixon, said:

“It’s been fantastic to see the local community come together to make a meaningful difference for families who use the community centre.”

“Supporting local organisations and communities in which we work in is at the heart of what we do, and in addition to this project as part of our work at Hough Top, we have spent over 47 hours engaging with local students, delivered 36 apprenticeship weeks and provided 65 hours’ worth of careers mentoring for young people aged under 24.” Chris Yates, Yorkshire Director at Willmott Dixon

*Full list of organisations involved:

Willmott Dixon – Volunteers, tools and financial donations
G&H - volunteers
Caddick - volunteers
Caddick Civil Engineering - volunteers
Leeds College of Building - volunteers
Wernicks (cabin hire) - volunteers
Beauparc - volunteers
LSS Waste – skip donation x 2
Atlas Green – top soil, mulch, weed membrane, loan of petrol strimmer and herb donation
Forward Leeds – Volunteers
We are Footprint – Volunteers and plant donation
HVSS – Hire of mini digger and 2 operatives
Ridings Design Consultants– Volunteers
Gleeds – Volunteers
Pick Everard – Volunteers
VHE – Volunteers and tools
Swinnow residents – volunteers
Akzo Nobel – donations of all fence paint