REDDITCH company Alcoa supported Leonard Cheshire Disability home Saltways, in Webheath, by offering its time to renovate the home's communal patio area.

The patio is used by many of the residents and their friends and family. Saltways offers the local community housing and respite care for disabled people from the age of 18 upwards.

In addition to Alcoa employees volunteering their time and hard work to paint all the garden furniture, plant flowers and shrubs and to give it a general tidy up, Alcoa Foundation, one of the largest corporate foundations in the UK, is also donating Saltways a grant of $1,500.

This will allow it to support new activities for the residents and fund its future memorial garden.

The volunteers included a variety of Alcoa employees ranging from senior management, office staff, machine operators and apprentices.

October is Alcoa‘s Month of Service – this means that all Alcoa sites globally participate in projects to help make a difference in their local community.

Paul Brown, managing director of Alcoa Fastening Systems, said: "Within the culture and values of the Alcoa Corporation is a drive to give something back to areas of the community where its business operations are located and to make a difference in the areas where we live and work.

"As a local business, we are happy to help wherever we can, whether that is in small incremental changes, or larger scale projects. This can be an environmental issue such as cleaning up areas, planting trees, focusing on recycling activities, or community based such as improving school facilities, or mentoring students. The people taking part are all volunteers giving up their free time to do something creative and helpful for the community."

Kay Restall, volunteer co-ordinator, said: “We really appreciate Alcoa’s support. The plant arrangements are going to provide a bright welcome to Saltways, and the refurbished patio furniture, and clearing of the patio, will mean that this is a lovely area for residents to spend time with family, friends and volunteers when the weather is good.”

For more information, visit www.alcoa.com.