THIS week will see more than 150 York volunteers unite to take on three challenges, for three hours, with three themes, over three days.

The three-themed projects, undertaken by generous volunteers from local businesses, are part of York Cares’ Big Community Challenge 2015.

As part of the challenge, volunteers will help revive outdoor spaces in schools, dementia care homes and parks for the benefit of local people.

In teams of ten, they will complete a variety of tasks from planting raised flower beds to re-surfacing paths.

Today will see volunteers working with staff and parents of pupils at Osbaldwick Primary School and St Paul’s CE Primary School to cut back vegetation, paint benches and make play and community areas more accessible.

Maggie Stirk, governor at St Paul's CE Primary School, said: "The support of volunteers to improve the playground and provide a more creative and attractive environment, will ensure that our children can feel proud of their surroundings and have a space that they deserve."

Day two of the challenge will see work on projects at elderly residents’ homes - Windsor House and Morrell House – and on day three, woodland paths and wildlife areas will be 're-invigorated' by the volunteers at West Bank and Rowntree Parks.

Helen Illman, York Cares Volunteering Project Officer, said: "This is the eighth annual Big Community Challenge and we are so pleased to see that employee volunteering is still going strong in York."

The Challenge was started in 2008 with two companies taking part. This year, 19 teams from 15 companies are helping multiple sites at schools, residents’ homes and parks.

This year’s volunteers are from organisations including Aviva, Benenden Health, City of York Council, Fera, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Northern Rail, The Partners Group, Portakabin, Tesco, University of York and Yorkshire Bank.

The Challenge has also attracted new recruits Omnicom Engineering, ADVA Optical Networking, Lendlease and Tata Steel Projects.

For more information about York Cares’ Big Community Challenge visit www.yorkcares.co.uk