Staff from Leicestershire-based online flooring retailer get hands-on with DIY work for Hinckley homeless charity

Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 5 October 2022

STAFF MEMBERS from a Leicestershire-based online flooring retailer carried out some hands-on DIY work for the benefit of residents at a Hinckley young homeless charity.

**Pictured: UK Flooring Direct’s HR Advisor, Asleigh McKenna (left), and Buying Admin Assistant, Maya Choto (right), who helped Hinckley Homeless with their DIY project.** (Image: Advent Communications)

Through their Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) programme, employees of UK Flooring Direct visited the Hinckley Homeless group, who provide accommodation and other forms of support for homeless young people aged 16 to 25 years old.

HR Advisor, Ashleigh McKenna, and Buying Admin Assistant, Maya Choto, took part in a four-and-a-half hour decorating stint with Louise Adams and the Hinckley Homeless team, where they helped spruce up and decorate the corridors and stairways of Lawrence House – a building used by residents during the day and into the night.

**The newly-decorated corridor** (Image: Advent Communications)

The day proved a success as they helped complete both important tasks during their time at Hinckley Homeless, based on Wood Street, just outside of the town centre.

The Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) programme ensures that every member of the UK Flooring Direct team are given a fully-paid day to offer their services to a charity or good cause.

And, as part of the scheme, UK Flooring Direct has partnered with Hinckley Homeless Group, RSPCA Coventry and District Branch, Shine A Light and Make Good Grow.

Ashleigh McKenna, HR Advisor at UK Flooring Direct, said: “Both myself and Maya had a really enjoyable time joining Louise and the Hinckley Homeless staff for the day, and are pleased that our hard work has gone a long way towards the upkeep of Lawrence House, a place that provides shelter and warmth for young people throughout the year.

“We were kept really busy, and were motivated to do something good for fellow members of the Hinckley community who are facing challenging circumstances and to also support Hinckley Homeless and their incredible work in the local area.

“Through our ESV programme, we are keen to support all four other organisations that we’re working with as part of the scheme as much as we can, and are already discussing new opportunities for the coming months.”

Louise Adams, Project Manager at Hinckley Homeless Group, said: “Given our day-to-day responsibilities to our residents, it’s easy for practical DIY tasks to be forgotten about, so we’re grateful to both Ashleigh and Maya for helping us with some much-needed renovation work.

“I was really impressed by the speed in which they worked and their commitment to the jobs at hand – which even included Maya getting covered in paint at one point!

She continued: “Some of our previous residents and the 12 young people that are currently in our care are understandably nervous and anxious so we really want to make Lawrence House as homely and friendly as possible.

“The positive and helpful relationship we are developing with UK Flooring Direct is encouraging, and we are keen to collaborate again and support our residents in any way we can as we all start to turn our attention towards the autumn.”

Hinckley Homeless Group welcome young people from across the Hinckley and Bosworth area, as well as individuals in need from Nuneaton, Blaby and areas of north west Leicestershire.

For more details on the Hinckley Homeless Group, including how to donate, and the application process for a place at Lawrence House, visit their website.