APM staff take time out to volunteer at day centre

As part of its drive to give something back to the community, members of Association for Project Management’s (APM) Portfolio team spent a day making improvements to the gardens at the local Princes Centre.

APM encourages employees to take time out of the office to volunteer with charities by granting each staff member one day a year to spend supporting a worthy cause of their choice. The Portfolio team decided to use its time to help the Princes Centre, a day centre in Princes Risborough for at-risk adults and elderly people.

The centre has a huge amount of outside space with no resource to maintain it, so Cathy Shaw, Jane Hawkins, Darren Smith and James Driver spent their volunteering day tidying the gardens, cutting the grass, pruning bushes and trimming hedges.

Cathy, portfolio manager, said: “APM has a strong focus on giving something back to the community and this was our team’s way of doing this. APM has grounded its roots in Princes Risborough and has enjoyed years of growth here, so it is now important we support others in it.

“Despite funding cuts, the Princes Centre has managed to continue to support those who need it and just by visiting you can see the enormous benefit it has to so many peoples’ lives.”

James, project communications and change manager, said: “There is a real community spirit in the centre and the work that has gone into it by volunteers and support workers has helped it deliver its services to the people who need them.

“The appreciation from the centre to our efforts showed that even a few hours support here and there can make a big difference to those who need it.”

You can find out more about the work of the Princes Centre at www.princescentre.org.uk