Member Article

Online flooring retailer lends support to the RSPCA in Coventry

A group of volunteers from a national online retailer based in Coventry have helped improve the surroundings at a local animal rescue centre.

A team of five from UK Flooring Direct went along to the RSPCA Coventry and District Branch in Allesley, where they were given tasks such as painting an outside fence and helping to tidy up indoors to make the centre even more appealing to the staff and the animals they care for.

The branch has rehomed more than 300 animals already this year and has a waiting list of 69 dogs and 74 cats waiting for a space to come into the centre.

The full day’s work came about through UK Flooring Direct’s Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) programme where staff are given a day of paid leave to volunteer with a charity, organisation or good cause.

The RSPCA Coventry and District Branch is one of four local organisations that UK Flooring Direct, the UK’s leading online retailer of wood and laminate flooring, has partnered with to deliver its ESV programme.

Staff at the company can choose to volunteer their time at one of those organisations or opt for a different cause that is close to their heart.

The team that went along to the RSPCA Coventry and District Branch included staff from a number of different departments including the company’s sales team and its warehouse. Charlotte Hawthorne, from the RSPCA Coventry and District Branch, introduced the team to some of the animals – including a dog named Frank, before setting them to work.

She said: “We are so grateful to be partnering with UK Flooring Direct as part of the company’s ESV programme.

“There are so many jobs that we don’t get time to do because all of our time is spent taking care of our animals, so having the team from UK Flooring Direct come in was a massive help.

“The weather wasn’t too kind for the outdoor work but we managed to get some of the painting done and there were plenty of other things for them to work on! I think they all really enjoyed it and could see the benefit they were bringing.

“There are lots of dogs and cats waiting to come into us and it is great that we have been able to make it even more welcoming!”

Ashleigh McKenna, HR advisor at UK Flooring Direct, said: “It’s really important to us that we give back to the communities where we are based, and our ESV programme really helps us to get out to great causes such as the RSPCA Coventry and District Branch.

“On top of that, it’s great for team morale and team building and shows everyone both inside and outside the company the kind of values we have as a business. “We look forward to seeing more members of the team going out to the RSPCA and ensuring we continue to support the great work they do in the city.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .