Volunteers Help Install Roof Garden

Organised as part of our Smarter Giving programme that facilitates connections between our members and charity organisations, last month saw a team of volunteers from local businesses – The Portman Estate, Home House & Knight Frank – spend the day helping local charity, Portman Early Childhood Centre, to install and create a roof garden on their building. Having recently received a grant from The Portman Estate (no direct link to the Centre itself, despite the name!) the roof garden was fitted with planters to give families the opportunity to grow fruit and vegetables – supporting wider learning about nutrition, sustainability and nature – as well as create a beautiful outdoor space for the children to use, many of whom live in flats with limited access to green space.

The Portman Centre works to support families in the nearby Church Street Ward, just north of Marylebone station and an area in which reportedly 60% of families are living on the lowest 1% income in the country. The Centre houses a charity nursery for around 80 local children as well as serves as a family centre supporting older children and families.

Despite the challenge of moving planters and soil up to the roof, the volunteers made a fantastic start to the roof garden project and their hard work was greatly appreciated by the Centre.
If you or your colleagues would like to know more about forthcoming volunteering opportunities or are interested in exploring other ways to support local charities and community groups, get in touch with our Smarter Giving Manager, Kate Heslegrave.