M&S Thurrock volunteers to support YMCA Romford

Eight colleagues from M&S Thurrock joined YMCA Romford to support the charity’s Site Operations team to help clear an outside space ahead of a new project to develop some secure accommodation for the charity’s young residents. YMCA Romford aims to do inspiring work every day which supports young people to belong, contribute and thrive in their local communities.  The charity has been helping the community for 130 years and each year directly supports up to 4,000 people in the surrounding area, and more broadly touches the lives of up to 15,000.

The volunteers were eight of 5,000 colleagues from more than 600 M&S stores across the UK, who took part in a week-long volunteering drive, committing over 40,000 hours to projects that work tirelessly to improve the lives of children, young people and families across the UK. The projects selected all help young people as a group that M&S and its customers feels passionate about supporting. As well as YMCA Romford, M&S is working with 400 organisations including schools, food banks, youth clubs and education charities to create positive outcomes for thousands of young people across the UK.

Aston spoke to Fergus Ross from YMCA Thames Gateway and Amanda McGivern from M&S Thurrock about the activity that has been taking place this week as part of volunteering week.