Bristol women’s centre gets DIY support from volunteers

An all-female team of employees have been putting their practical skills to good use to help a Bristol charity supporting women affected by multiple disadvantages.

Seven staff did a day’s decorating at the Nelson Trust’s Bristol Women’s Centre which provides key-working sessions, group therapy, along with practical support including crèche and IT access, washing facilities, food parcels and hot meals.

The team undertook the work as part of our employee volunteering programme which provides opportunities for staff to support the communities they work in.

Volunteer Megan Gilbert said: “We had a fantastic and rewarding day at the Nelson Centre, painting some of their walls which were looking quite stark and bare.

“We painted two rooms which will be used for one-to-one meetings with women and their key workers, and also spaces for group activities and support sessions. It was a really empowering and uplifting day, and came at the perfect time with the approach of International Women’s Day.”

The Bristol centre offers a full timetable of activities throughout the week including accredited educational courses, workshops, drop-ins and groups which cover wellbeing, life skills and creative activities.

Lindsay Syms, of the Nelson Trust, said: “We were delighted to have the National Grid Electricity Distribution group volunteer at our Bristol office, they brought light and laughter to our centre while helping to ensure we have a trauma informed space.”

As well as running community services in Bristol, the charity provides women’s centres across South West England and Wales and residential rehabilitation in Stroud.