Brush with Kindness: Helping improve the lives of people in need

In late May, three corporate groups, Cotality, Bay Building Group and WT Partnerships each put in a hard day’s work at Servant’s Community Housing in Kew, painting the residents’ kitchen and recreation room as well as undertaking general tidying and gardening.

Pictured above: Corporate volunteers from Bay Building Group tidy up the garden and surrounds at Servants Community Housing.

It is a real privilege to be able to work with corporate groups who are so committed to giving back – each team expressed a real empathy and respect throughout this experience.

Jayden, Servant’s resident House Manager, said that the site is home to dozens of residents ranging from their early 30s to their 80s. “Servants supports people from all walks of life…We support those who struggle to look after themselves,” he said.

The team from Bay Building Group was touched when one of the residents, Mark, shared his very personal struggle with mental illness and journey from homelessness to supported long-term housing.  Today, Mark is employed as a salesperson for The Big Issue and it is clear that he both loves his job and coming home to a supportive environment every day.

Mark said: "I love living in Hamer Court. It is my home. It is my family."It is a real privilege to be able to work with our amazing volunteers to help make a difference to the lives of people like Mark.

A big thanks goes to Dulux Group for generously supplying all of the paint for this project.