Marsden colleagues help Whitehough look its best

Colleagues from Marsden Building Society rolled up their sleeves for two hands-on group volunteering days at Whitehough Outdoor Activity Centre in Pendle.

The Activity Centre is operated by Burnley FC in the Community and offers a variety of outdoor activities for all ages. Across the two days, volunteers helped to improve the centre's outdoor spaces by planting wildflowers, clearing and preparing overgrown areas, and weeding pathways used by visitors.

The initiative is part of the Society’s ‘Volunteering Policy’, which provides colleagues with up two days paid leave per year to step away from their usual roles and make a lasting contribution to their local areas.

Lisa Hayton, Customer Representative at Marsden’s Barrowford branch, said: “I had a great day, and it felt really good to be able to help out and get our hands dirty to help maintain the centre. The staff were very appreciative of our help and even brought us ice pops to help us cool down in the blistering heat! It’s definitely something I’d do again.”

Chris Doyle, Retail Manager at Marsden Building Society, added: "I had a fantastic day. I love physical activity and being outside, so digging up a big patch of grass and planting a wildflower garden was right up my street.”

Hayley Duckworth, Head of People at Marsden Building Society, highlighted the wider impact of the initiative: "I would absolutely do it again. I hope that we can do a lot more to support the centre and other similar organisations who really benefit from businesses like ours spending time to keep their venues in good condition so that the community can enjoy it."

The volunteering days form part of Marsden Building Society’s ongoing commitment to making a positive difference beyond the workplace. By supporting organisations such as Whitehough Outdoor Activity Centre, colleagues are helping to maintain outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed by local residents and community groups for years to come.

The Society has also been supporting Burnley FC in the Community’s Mission Possible initiative, for which the Marsden has already hit the £1,000 target for 2026.

The success of the volunteering days and fundraising activities reinforce the Society’s commitment to giving back to the community, while also providing colleagues with opportunities to help build something better for Lancashire.