11 young volunteers help transform Avonmouth Community Centre in partnership with Toolstation and VIY
Posted by: electime 13th July 2026
DIY and trade retailer Toolstation recently joined forces with social enterprise Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) to oversee a renovation project in Avonmouth, transforming and refurbishing the Avonmouth Community Centre Association (ACCA).
The centre provides a friendly and accessible hub for the local community to engage in and enjoy throughout the year, with services including an on-site library, gardening and outdoor space, health and wellbeing classes, and an event space for community gatherings, festive meals and more.
Run by a board of local volunteers and trustees who, together with a small team of paid staff, manage the community centre building and activities, ACCA aspires to give a voice to the local residents and create a strong, prosperous and caring community.
To meet the changing needs and expectations of the community, the building was in need a regeneration project. VIY, a social enterprise which challenges young people to learn trade and employability skills by helping to fix local community space, offered their services in partnership with Toolstation.
11 young volunteers from VIY joined forces with volunteers from Toolstation to complete the refurbishment, with the assistance of supplies donated by the DIY and trade retailer. The project led to more energy-efficient and thermally comfortable indoor spaces created through repointing, damp proofing and repainting the interiors, as well as improved external walls.
In addition to creating an enhanced community centre, the refurbishment also helped young people learn DIY skills and consider a career in the construction and building industry, while renovating a space they can benefit from. Through its partnership with Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), Toolstation has helped create opportunities for the 11young people in attendance to gain City & Guilds qualifications and boost their employability skills. In total, 12 accreditations were awarded in Health and Safety and Painting and Decorating.
Toolstation’s charity partner, British Heart Foundation (BHF), have agreed to host CPR training sessions at the new and improved centre, helping local residents protect both their own heart and that of their friends and family.
Chris Other, Customer Director at Toolstation, said: “We believe that supporting communities involves creating positive change where it’s needed most. Partnering with VIY means we can help improve living conditions and share valuable skills with the volunteers from the local area. We believe that this project will encourage young people to develop confidence and learn practical trade and building skills and to consider a career in the trade.”
Ed Sellwood, COO and Co-Founder at VIY, said: “We’re proud of our long-term partnership with Toolstation, helping to inspire and diversify the next generation of tradespeople over the past five years, whilst helping to improve spaces that matter to communities where resources for improvements are scarce. We look forward to continuing our great work together for the rest of 2026 and beyond.”
Rachel Haig, CEO of Avonmouth Community Centre, said: “First thing to say is a massive thanks! Toolstation and BHF make a massive difference with their generous support for our project, setting a great example for other local businesses. The space looks wonderful. What a difference it has made! I am getting some great feedback from the groups as they move back in.
It was great having VIY around. What you bring is not just the physical improvement but energy and hope – a really positive youthful contribution that, I think, goes much further into the atmosphere of these places than we realise. Anyway, thank you for choosing to come to Avonmouth. It is much appreciated. VIY and partners would be welcome back to do other work anytime”
Toolstation has been supporting VIY since 2020 and will be working with the social enterprise on a number of other projects throughout the year.
