At Martin Arnold, we are greatly committed to creating positive change in the communities we live and work in. Our partnership with Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) is a great example of how we use our resources, expertise and energy to make a meaningful difference in the Royal Borough of Greenwich (RBG).

As part of RBG’s five-year Capital Works Programme, which focuses on building new council homes and refurbishing existing ones with essential upgrades, we are proud to be delivering a programme of social value which will deliver improvements to the local community. We have teamed up with Potter Raper and FFT to deliver an estimated £700,000 worth of social value within our first year. This pilot initiative, running until March 2025, is focussing on projects that improve health, education, youth services and social inclusion across the local community.

One of the programmes we support is the Extra Time Hub, which encourages active ageing for retired and semi-retired individuals. Held every Wednesday at The Valley in Charlton, the Hub offers a wide array of activities, from dance and singing classes to curling, all designed to improve physical and mental wellbeing.

Kyle Mullings, a member of our Health and Safety team, had the opportunity to volunteer at the Extra Time 2024 Christmas Party and shared his experience: “Honestly, it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had! The joy and energy in the room was infectious and it was great to see so many people enjoying themselves and engaging in the activities. It truly highlighted the value of these community programmes.”

This hands-on volunteering experience is just one of the ways we contribute to the community. As part of our social value plan, we are also supporting a range of important programmes that make a real impact in the community. These include initiatives such as Food Poverty (Young Greenwich), which addresses food insecurity among young people, and the Post-16 Academy, which provides educational support for students after school. We are also involved in Young Greenwich, a tutoring programme which helps students reach their academic potential, as well as the Employability Project (NEETs), focused on helping young people who are not in education, employment or training to build skills and find work. We have provided in-kind support to these vital initiatives, offering resources and expertise to improve educational outcomes and give young people in Greenwich the tools they need to thrive.

In addition to the initiatives we are already involved in, our team are looking forward to taking part in an Employability Event in February 2025 which involves career workshops connected to the CACT “Training Ground” Programme. Our team will talk to young people about the exciting possibilities in the built environment. This is an important way of encouraging the next generation to consider careers in construction and design, and it is a cause that we are really passionate about.

Martin Lock, Director at Martin Arnold, commented: “We are excited to be supporting and working collaboratively with CACT to help deliver meaningful programmes in the local community. The partnership between the consultants, CACT and the Royal Borough of Greenwich is one that we hope will set a positive example for others to follow.”

Our collaboration with CACT and the Royal Borough of Greenwich demonstrates how, together, we can make a lasting impact. By continuing to work with CACT and other local organisations, we hope to inspire others to take action and support the causes that matter most.

To learn more about the incredible work being done by Charlton Athletic Community Trust, visit their website here.