A day of hard work has given Lifeskills Plus three new activity rooms in its centre on Oporto Road.
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Staff from Petries Mitre 10 and CSR Building Products, along with tradesman Marty Turner, volunteered their time, expertise and materials to boost the disability organisation’s ongoing renovation of its centre.
The former Clarkson’s Clearance building is being converted in sections into a facility able to accommodate a broad range of activities, along with administration offices and respite accommodation.
Over the course of a day, five members of the Petries staff and seven employees of CSR added to this by working with Marty Turner to take three rooms from timber frames to lined and insulated rooms.
A donation of $2000 from the Charity Shop in Kandos will pay for the installation of the new rooms’ windows, and money raised by the hardworking Friends of Lifeskills will fund the purchase of equipment and furnishings.
The new areas will be program rooms for one-on-one activities, such as sewing, reading and quiet sensory time.
Phil Petrie of Petries Mitre 10 supported Lifeskills in the first stage of the centre’s development, and he contacted the organisation to see how he could contribute to stage two.
CSR regional segment manager Craig Sweeney said the company had held annual volunteering days for the last four years, inspired by the community work done by Petries Mitre 10.
The day was a chance for CSR staff, drawn from around New South Wales, to spend time with their partners from Mitre 10, get out of the office, and give something to the community.
He said Phil Petrie, who always wanted to put something back into the community, set the example for the whole team.
He also commended Marty Turner for giving up a full day to work on the project and guide the other volunteers.
Lifeskills Plus CEO Carolyn Peek said the organisation wanted its building to be a community facility when it is completed, with activity facilities and sensory areas that could be used by schools, preschools, early intervention, and aged care facilities.
She thanked the volunteers for their amazing contribution, and said they could not imagine how much it would mean to Lifeskills’ clients.
