Dulux

Developing the next generation of Painters & Decorators, by bringing communities together through the power of paint

We’ve been doing #SomethingConstructive together with Dulux for over three years, bringing communities together through the power of paint and their Let’s Colour initiative. Our current three year partnership aims to build on the impact we’ve made together so far since July 2020:

  • 193 projects supported across the UK since our first project at Youth Concern in 2020
  • 2,000+ young people trained in Painting & Decorating
  • 2000+ Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditations gained in Painting & Decorating
  • 13,000+ litres of paint donated
  • 108,074 lives coloured in some of our most deprived communities
  • Community Partner to the Dulux Decorator Centre network of 230+ stores, with sales of their tin openers and stirrers at each counter contributing directly towards the Painting & Decorating accreditations gained by our young volunteers

Scroll below to see our impact brought to life.

“We at Dulux love partnering with Volunteer It Yourself. Our ongoing partnership continues to not only add colour to tens of thousands of lives each year but also helps hundreds of young people improve their confidence and construction skills. It’s a shining example of how collaboration with brilliant partners can harness the power of paint!”

Pete Howard, Sustainability & CSR Lead
AkzoNobel Decorative Paints UK&I

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We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our National Partners like Dulux, and others in the trade sector like Toolstation and Travis Perkins, along with the funding of other Programme Partners and Project Supporters.

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Volunteer with VIY

Creating brighter spaces for young people to thrive

Boosting the stability of active community spaces

Upskilling and mentoring the next generation

As well as brightening community spaces, our partnership with Dulux offers their teams the chance to volunteer on the ground alongside young people, getting to know their product and giving something back to the community. Just like the team and their partners at Channel 4 did here at Amber Foundation in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

Volunteer with VIY

“The changing room facility improvements have been very well received by all ages and both home and away teams. High standard playing facilities are key to retaining young people in sports, especially at a time when we are seeing an overall decrease in playing numbers across the country.”

Woodford Rugby Club, Essex, pictured above
CASE STUDY “For the last 4-5 years, I’ve just been lost. My future now looks a lot brighter.” Ali, VIY Volunteer turned Apprentice

We’re working to connect our VIY alumni with positive next steps into further education, training or employment, through our national partnerships with employers like Dulux. Like Ali, who was supported by VIY to secure an apprenticeship with Dulux contractor, Ian Williams.

Ali (pseudonym) first joined us at Evolve Community Centre in Nottingham, a project part-funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via Nottingham City Council. He was referred via Al-Hurraya, who support young people from ethnic minority and refugee communities in Nottingham to overcome the effects of addiction and crime. He’d dropped out of uni, been injured and out of his beloved boxing, and had been working security since, which he didn’t love.

He told us he wanted to learn as many skills as he could and wanted to renovate houses afterwards. He gained a City & Guilds accreditation in bricklaying with us at the project in Nottingham, and was offered employability support through our Progressions team – who helped him to successfully apply for an opportunity with Ian Williams.

Ali’s now 3 months into his apprenticeship and thriving. He’s currently working on void houses that need general maintenance – things like slab laying/removal of tiles/filling/changing taps and refitting broken doors. “My favourite part is working with my two colleagues and learning from them, they are like my bosses. I’m really enjoying it.”

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