Colin Drawbridge was one of our Tameside Neighbourhood Volunteers during the height of the pandemic. He was part of a huge team of volunteers carrying out Action Together’s Foodbank Doorstep Donation Scheme, helping to ensure that Tameside’s foodbank could meet the rising demand for their services.
In 2021 Colin, who is employed by Timberland UK, was awarded a Prestigious Hero Award, recognising the corporate social responsibility projects that Timberland have been involved in across the UK. Colin was given £1,000 to donate to a charity of his choosing. After speaking with the Tameside Community Development Team, he made the decision to donate the funds to LEAP. The money was used to fund the Sunflower Project where thousands of sunflower seeds were purchased, with the aim of planting them across the borough, creating a sea of yellow in the streets.
Colin was so impressed and moved by the work that LEAP do every day that he wanted to continue working with them and started making plans for a team of Timberland employees, from all over the UK, to come together for a day of volunteering. Colin and the Timberland team decided to get involved in an exciting new National Lottery funded project, the LEAP - Community Green in Dukinfield.
They have started work transforming the site in to an inviting and tranquil greenspace, an allotment to grow lots of fruits and vegetables, and a place for the local community to enjoy nature and get involved in some activities to boost their health and wellbeing.
Kevin, a Timberland HR manager from London said,
“This Community Green project is really important. As well as a greenspace for the local community, it is also going to be a place for events and activities that will help people to improve their mental health. I also got the chance to meet all these great colleagues that I might not have had the chance to meet otherwise.”
The great work being carried out by the Timberland UK team doesn’t stop here. They have already made plans to return to the site and continue with its development.