The introduction of staff charity days at a Chipping Sodbury-based independent housebuilder has proven beneficial to a local school and even reached families in Uganda.

After being introduced last year, Redcliffe Homes gives every member of staff the opportunity to take a ‘charity day’ to spend time helping an organisation or charity of their choice.

Jay Evans used skills from his role as Finance Director and CFO at Redcliffe Homes to support an organisation which improves the lives of families in Uganda.

A friend of Jay’s, a trustee for the Hope for Life Katanga charity, took the perfect opportunity while mountain biking together to ask for his help.

Jay said “The charity enables families in Katanga, Uganda, to realise their potential towards living a self-sufficient life through the provision of education, sponsorship, training and finances.

“I conducted an independent examination, which involves checking the accounting records for charities not large enough to warrant a full statutory audit.”

Meanwhile Senior Quantity Surveyor Mel Wyatt split her charity day to support Mother’s Day and Father’s Day fund-raising sales at The Ridge Junior School, in Yate.

Mel, who has worked for Redcliffe Homes for 20 years, has been treasurer of the Friends of The Ridge School for five years, and chair for the most recent academic year.

She said: “We ran pop-up shops during school hours before Mother’s Day and Father’s Day for the children to purchase something for a loved one.

“A small profit was made on each item, and the money raised is used towards the cost of items from the school’s own wishlist.

“This year, money has gone towards funding chicks in school (eggs and incubators are provided by a company and the children can see them hatch and handle the chicks), we bought enough boom whacker musical instruments for a class and hope to fund a further 15 iPads – on top of the 15 we helped fund last year.”

Jay and Mel both welcomed the decision to introduce charity days at Redcliffe Homes.

Jay said: “If a charity day policy helps trigger consideration of serving in society somewhere, then it has got to be a good thing.

“Ultimately, its purpose is to benefit charities, and if our efforts help charities succeed a little more and shine a little brighter, then that’s all that matters.”

Mel added: “Everyone wins. The chosen charities or organisations get some valuable extra support and we get the satisfaction of being able to help, as well as using transferable skills to benefit others.

“All the school events take planning, management, co-ordination and leadership to enable them to run successfully – all attributes which I need in my current job with Redcliffe Homes.”