Hands‑on volunteering at St John’s Community Centre brings sustainability to life

To mark Earth Day 2026, colleagues came together to volunteer at St John’s Community Centre, supporting local green spaces and our community just a stone’s throw from Thames Refinery.

In the community garden, volunteers spent the day planting, digging, sorting and watering to help refresh and maintain the space for local residents. Colleagues also sorted and organised donations for its popular boot sale, where items are sold for just a few pence, helping to reduce waste while providing affordable clothing for the community.

In the afternoon, volunteers transformed the centre for its St George’s Day community event, serving a Pie and Mash lunch before residents enjoyed an afternoon of entertainment.

“We had such a great time volunteering and gardening for Earth Day at St John’s Community Centre—it was genuinely rewarding. We loved chatting and getting

stuck in alongside local community members, and it’s inspired us to keep coming back to volunteer more regularly.”

Magdalena Asiesiukiewicz, Quality Manager, & Wynmon Wong, Senior Technical Document Administrator

Earth Day is a timely reminder of the importance of caring for our natural world and the communities connected to it. Our over 50-year relationship with the community centre supports their incredible work creating a shared space for local residents to gather, socialise, access essential services, and have fun.