B&Q, in collaboration with Neighbourly, launches its annual Community Days initiative across the UK and Ireland.
- 311 B&Q stores commit to delivering significant DIY projects in partnership with local charities.
- Each project receives volunteer support and up to £1,000 in B&Q products to aid completion.
- Previous collaborations have benefited over 2,000 local causes and provided extensive community support.
- The initiative also contributes to the company’s Community Reuse programme, which reallocates surplus materials.
This autumn, B&Q stores throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland are mobilising their resources and manpower for the annual Community Days volunteering programme, facilitated via the Neighbourly platform. The initiative seeks to engage B&Q employees from 311 stores in substantial DIY endeavours that assist local charities. In these efforts, each store is committed to supplying volunteer teams and contributing up to £1,000 worth of B&Q products necessary for completing the respective projects.
The programme’s scope is wide-ranging, encompassing tasks from renovating community centres and designing garden areas to enhancing facilities for individuals in need. B&Q employees’ mission is to positively impact and connect with the communities their stores serve, demonstrating a tangible commitment to social responsibility.
Since the partnership with Neighbourly commenced in 2019, employees have supported over 2,000 local causes, providing considerable volunteer hours and expertise. A notable example is the collaboration with Blackpool & The Fylde Street Angels, a charity committed to aiding individuals facing homelessness, addiction, or exploitation. B&Q’s dedication is exemplified through their efforts, such as the ongoing renovation of Angels Rest, a supported housing block by Richard Cooper’s team from the B&Q Blackpool store, enhancing communal spaces to offer a more welcoming environment.
In conjunction with Community Days, B&Q operates a Community Reuse programme, distributing surplus materials and products to local community groups, charities, and schools, effectively minimising waste. To date, this initiative has successfully redirected 725 tonnes of surplus products back into the community, underscoring the dual benefit of environmental stewardship and community support.
These efforts reflect B&Q’s steadfast commitment to corporate social responsibility and highlight the effectiveness of community collaboration. As Jo Curtis, community manager at B&Q, notes, the company’s projects significantly uplift communities by transforming physical spaces. Further corroborating this, Neighbourly CEO Steve Butterworth comments on the productive partnership that began in 2021, which leverages surplus product, time, and financial resources to bolster local neighbourhoods.
B&Q’s initiatives exemplify the impactful results of corporate and community partnership, enhancing life quality for many.
