Mace Group staff and students volunteer at SPCA for Volunteers’ Week

To kick off Volunteers’ Week, a group from Mace Group came to SPCA to spend two days freshening up the main hall, meeting rooms and transforming the garden.

At the moment, Mace is working on the construction of the UCL Dementia Research Institute, requiring them to work with the Camden community that is being disturbed by the construction process. John Llamas, a Social Value Manager at Mace, explained that his team strives to ‘leave a bit of a legacy’ in the surrounding area, connecting with charities, fundraising, and creating jobs for local people.

John met members of our staff at a local volunteering event and chose to connect with SPCA because of our direct work with the local Camden community in an area with high needs; he wanted to be part of the effort to give back. He connected with his supply chain to gather painting materials, gardening equipment, step ladders, and a B&Q voucher to buy plants for the garden. An experienced painter from Mace’s painting partner also joined the team.

John has dedicated much of his career to giving back to communities in need, particularly through work with youth in education. His work at SPCA was no exception: while some of the team came from Mace, others were students volunteering from Capital City College who got the opportunity to learn about the construction industry from John and painter Theo.

Students and Mace staff alike got to work repainting the main hall and meetings room. They also gave the garden a much-needed makeover, trimming back trees, varnishing wooden benches and fixtures, weeding, and taking down an old shed. The crew spent their two days connecting with our staff between their work on the facilities. One volunteer said they were keen to clean up the image of construction workers by showing their respect and care for the local environment and people that their projects may be disrupting.

The team was joined on their second day by a group of Golden Years volunteers to help put the finishing touches on the garden. We are thrilled to connect so many wonderful volunteers who care about the Camden community.

SPCA Director Melissa Lawrence said “John and Mace were a real help during Volunteers’ Week. They just got on with things, were easy to work with, and really added to the SPCA community. We’d love to see them back again soon!”

Special thanks to John and everyone from the Mace team who joined us this Volunteers’ Week!