A handful of Southern Electric employees recently gave up a day of work to help carry out a much needed backstage makeover at the Kings Theatre in Portsmouth.
Volunteering teams from the company’s IT and Customer Service departments, based at our office in Havant, went head-to-head in a challenge backstage to re-decorate the two star dressing rooms.
The Kings Theatre Trust Ltd has kept the theatre open since 2001 and has spent around £2m on refurbishment using both professional workers and volunteers along the way.
Southern Electric part of SSE were asked to lend a helping hand through the company’s Community at Heart scheme, which gives staff members the chance to take a day out of their normal working lives to help a group in their local area.
Actor Chris Marlowe appeared in costume as panto Dame “Gertie the Gorgeous” to judge the newly decorated rooms and decided on a draw between the two teams and presented each team with a ticket to the opening show.
Ian Boucher, employee experience co-ordinator, took part in the activities and said:
“We decided to get involved because one of our employees, Dawn Mitchell, has a daughter who performed at the Kings.
“She told us about the different things they’re currently fixing so we decided to help out. Both the teams did a great job and this may not be the last time they are seen at the Kings.”
Employees at SSE have already completed a staggering 2025 Community at Heart days across 204 projects since April this year and continue to assist and reach out to local communities across the UK and Ireland.
If you are an organisation or a school that uses volunteers to support your paid staff, get in touch. If you have a specific project that can be completed in a day or so, contact us to see how we can help you.