05.30.19
PPG recently completed a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES project that helped revitalize the Community Centre Trust facility in Birstall, UK.
The project brought together more than 35 PPG volunteers, who spent a week refurbishing and painting rooms throughout the facility alongside center members.
The center serves as a community hub for a diverse program of arts, theater, fitness, and wellness events and classes for more than 600 people each week.
PPG provided around 40 gallons (150 liters) of JOHNSTONE’S paint products in addition to nearly $50,000 (38,500 GBP) to support the facility’s renovation, which included new windows, a new ceiling with energy-efficient lighting, a new commercial kitchen, and bathroom repair and restoration.
The Colorful Communities program provides PPG volunteers and products along with financial contributions to bring color and vitality to communities where the company operates around the world, such as in Birstall, where PPG has an architectural coatings facility.
“As a home for cultural events, meetings and local groups, the Birstall Community Centre provides vital creative and support services to enrich our diverse local community,” said Ian Blamires, trustee, Birstall Community Trust. “PPG has been a vibrant part of Birstall’s business community for many years, and this Colorful Communities project at the center only enhances the community engagement opportunities we are able to provide.”
Volunteers painted the interior of the main building in a color palette of bold and subtle colors that included blue, green, cream, yellow and gray. The selected palette took into consideration people who are visually impaired, elderly or suffering from dementia by providing visual contrast for walls, doors, frames and handrails.
PPG volunteers also helped beautify a new catering area and renovated the center’s reception area and bathrooms. The project was supported by Green’s Decorating Contractor’s Limited, which provided local refurbishment services.
“We are proud to bring together our volunteers and products to demonstrate a real and positive impact on the community in which we live and work,” said Paul Dowie, PPG HR director, architectural coatings, Europe, Middle East and Africa, north and east regions. “The Community Centre Trust is located less than half a mile from our Birstall location, and our employees enthusiastically gave back to an organization that has enriched their lives.”
This is the second major Colorful Communities project in Birstall, with multiple smaller projects also completed by PPG volunteers in the area. The first major Colorful Communities project in 2017 helped revitalize two schools that are part of the Focus-Trust family of schools – Fieldhead Primary Academy and Birstall Primary Academy.
