Management trainees Thomas Hensby and Libby Newcombe led a team of volunteers to support Jackie’s Drop-In, a Letchworth-based charity that helps individuals with disabilities.
Jackie's Drop-In provides a welcoming space for social activities and outings, but faces challenges common to small charities, including rising costs and a shortage of volunteers.
The project was part of the Willmott Dixon Trainee Challenge, where trainees receive £500 seed funding to lead a community project aligned with our Now or Never sustainability strategy.
Thomas said:
“We wanted to support a local charity that didn't get enough recognition and Jackie’s Drop-In stood out to us due to their incredible work.”
Libby said:
"After visiting the centre and meeting Zoe and Jackie, we understood the challenges they faced and saw a great opportunity to help the shop remain open and raise money to contribute to ongoing costs."
Together, Tom and Libby organised a community sports day with centre members and local residents, fundraising included a virtual bingo night and a companywide lunchtime quiz.
A team of 24 volunteers from Willmott Dixon donated over 95 hours of their time, managing online sales, packing orders, and assisting with daily operations.
Their efforts have allowed Jackie's Drop-In charity shop to open on for an extra weekday organising volunteers to staff the shop on Wednesdays, contributing to increased revenue.
And the team continues to help the centre streamline their operational systems, setting up a card-based entry system to help reduce day-to-day workload and allow staff to focus on providing vital community services for members with disabilities.
