A CITY firm has been lending a helping hand to a hospice this summer.

ISO Quality Services Ltd, based in St John's donated four days of their time to help St Richard's Hospice, revamping the children's area in the hospice grounds, sanding and painting the furniture and clearing out weeds.

Managing director, Jennifer Semini said: “We really wanted to try something different this year and corporate volunteering provides so many benefits to both the charities and companies involved.

"A charity is dependent upon volunteers just as much as they are donations, without either, they wouldn’t be able to survive.

"Volunteering allows you the opportunity to give something that money can’t buy, your time, but the experience can also be a great team building exercise and an opportunity for employees to develop new skills.

"We’re already looking to complete a similar initiative next year."

The company used their volunteering days between July and September and group one worked their magic on the revamp of the children’s area, which is used specifically for counselling bereaved children.

Groups two and four sanded and painted the wooden garden furniture and group three took on the jungle of weeds in a newly planted area of the Hospice.

Nick Harris, estate & facilities support manager at St Richard’s Hospice commented: “the teams have done a fantastic job for us and we are very grateful.

"The additional help has allowed our maintenance team to concentrate on more patient-centred issues."