VOLUNTEERS from York businesses have signed up to transform four city locations.

With a theme of promoting health and wellbeing in different outdoor and indoor spaces, the York Cares Big Community Challenge 2018 is being held this week.

Volunteers are taking part in teams of up to ten to complete a variety of tasks from building raised beds for growing fruit and vegetables to creating an accessible, outdoor seating area for residents and visitors.

The project got underway yesterday at Gale Farm Court Independent Living Community.

Based on Front Street, Acomb, this accommodates older people and adults with learning difficulties.

Volunteers made improvements to the community courtyard, creating more spaces for residents of all abilities to sit outside and socialise.

Today and tomorrow, teams are creating a beach themed garden at Mill Lodge NHS Community Unit, on Huntington Road, Huntington, where support is provided for young people experiencing acute mental health issues.

On Thursday, volunteers will be creating a relaxing outdoor area for patients and visitors at Clarence Gardens, a green space situated next to York Hospital.

The Glen respite centre, on Ousecliffe Gardens, Clifton, is the fourth location where volunteers from Portakabin will be focusing on renovation and redecorating tasks throughout the week.

Caroline Wilcock, volunteering project officer for York Cares, said: “This is the eleventh annual Big Community Challenge and we are so pleased to see that employee volunteering is still going strong in York. From two companies taking part in 2008, this year we have teams from 14 companies taking time to give something back to the city.”

This year’s volunteers are from organisations including Aviva, Benenden Health, City of York Council, John Lewis, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, JWP Creers, Northern Rail, The Partners Group, Portakabin Ltd, TSP Projects, Vanguarde, and Yorkshire Bank.

Evora Construction and Johnsons of Whixley have donated construction materials and plants as well as sending volunteers to support through the week.

For more information about the challenge visit www.yorkcares.co.uk.