The team at Taylor Walton Solicitors recently pitched in to help Home-Start Hertfordshire by giving their Stevenage office a fresh new look. Over three days, the team deep-cleaned, painted, and reorganised the entire space.
A total of 25 people from Taylor Walton’s three offices in St Albans, Harpenden, and Luton took part. Each person volunteered half a day on the 7th, 8th, or 9th of August to help out. Together, they worked hard to paint, tidy up, and reorganise the office.
Home-Start is Taylor Walton’s chosen charity for the 2024/25 financial year. As part of this, the firm encourages all staff to volunteer for half a day each year. Emily Waddell, Head of Marketing at Taylor Walton, said, “It was great to coordinate this project. Well done and thank you to everyone involved. It was a big job, with many rooms needing a makeover, including the kitchen, meeting room, office spaces, hallway, storage area, and loos. The changes have already made a big difference to the charity, allowing them to focus on helping families across Hertfordshire.”
The team carefully cleaned and organised each area before starting the painting. They also reorganised the cupboards to make better use of the storage space. New furniture was provided by JPA Workspaces, and Brewers Decorators in St Albans supplied the paint. Wall decorations were designed to show the charity’s values, thanks to MacPro Design and Print, and colourful landscape pictures, taken by TW staff, were framed and hung on the walls. The project focused on recycling and reusing as much as possible to be eco-friendly. The end result is a bright and welcoming office space.
Not everyone at Taylor Walton could volunteer in person, so the firm also held three bake sales in July to raise money. The funds went towards buying extras like picture frames and plants, with the rest donated to Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Home-Start Hertfordshire, established in 1983, believes every child deserves a happy and secure childhood. The charity helps families facing challenges like post-natal depression, isolation, health problems, and bereavement. They provide volunteer family mentors who spend around two hours a week with families, offering both practical and emotional support. This helps parents build the skills and confidence they need to care for their children.
Suzy Moody, CEO of Home-Start Hertfordshire, shared her gratitude: “We were thrilled to be chosen as Taylor Walton’s charity for the year. From the beginning, they were enthusiastic, with lots of fundraising activities already planned. When we mentioned the need for a refurb, Emily, the Head of Marketing, jumped at the idea and put together a team to take on the challenge. The outcome far exceeded our expectations, and the staff love the fresh new look. One team member even said, ‘It looks like someone cares’ and ‘It feels more welcoming when you come in’.”
To learn more about the charity, visit Home-Start Hertfordshire’s website
