Dulux Decorator Centre is proud to be supporting VIY as their new Community Partner. VIY challenges young people to learn trade and employability skills, working with 14–24 year-olds who volunteer to carry out essential repairs and improvements to youth and community facilities. With the help of professional tradespeople who mentor the young volunteers, the social enterprise has worked with 13,000 young people who are not in education, employment or training, or at risk of disengagement/exclusion from mainstream education or training across more than 700 projects since 2011.

Dulux Decorator Centre is supporting VIY by selling paint stirrers and tin openers in all of their stores. Every purchase made will pay towards the young people to gain City & Guilds accreditations in Painting & Decorating.

Duncan Lochhead, Commercial Sustainability Manager, from Dulux Decorator Centre commented: “We are proud to support VIY and its incredible community work. Our pledge is twofold: we will be donating profits from sales of our paint stirrers and can openers, as well as encouraging our customers to get involved in VIY’s projects. The work that VIY carries out makes a vital difference to local communities.

“It also gives young people an all-important introduction to our industry. The decorating trade is facing a skills shortage, and this makes enticing new talent very important. VIY plays a significant role in this.”

Tim Reading, CEO and Co-Founder of VIY said: “Working in partnership with like-minded organisations is at the heart of the VIY model. Working with the biggest names in the trade helps demonstrate true, collaborative social value between both VIY and big brand organisations, like Dulux; working together to develop the next generation of tradespeople and profound impact for local communities through the power of paint.”

If you are interested in lending a hand as a paid mentor or volunteer, Dulux Decorator Centre’s campaign and colleagues in store will also encourage customers to get involved with VIY’s community projects, to improve local facilities and support the next generation by sharing their skills and experience by volunteering or becoming a mentor with VIY

Kate Kerr, Painter & Decorator and VIY Mentor said: “I wasn’t very academic and having a positive opportunity to learn outside of the classroom was a release from the everyday pressures of school. I hope VIY creates the same experience for younger people today. Combining this with the transformation of buildings that are really important for local communities makes VIY one of the best initiatives I’ve ever encountered.

"I relish working with the young people and being able to give them real site experience is amazing. Seeing learners transform from unsure and nervous on day one into chuffed and proud at the end of the week is phenomenal and brings me so much joy!"

The partnership is an incentive in Dulux Decorator Centre’s ongoing commitment to support good causes and have a positive impact on people’s lives. In doing so, Dulux Decorator Centre continues to spread the AkzoNobel philosophy of supplying sustainable and innovative paints that customers, communities, and the environment are relying on through its People. Planet. Paint. approach.

As the UK’s leading decorating merchant, Dulux Decorator Centre is dedicated to building long-lasting relationships with its customers and helping them to bring colour to the communities in which they work.

For more information on the new initiatives to support VIY, visit Volunteer It Yourself: Learn trade skills & help the community – where you can also view VIY’s schedule and get in touch with a VIY Mentor Manager.