Management trainee Amaan Subhani successfully led a team of 59 volunteers to deliver transformative improvements at the Friends of Bright Eyes (FOBE) Centre, generating over £58,000 in gifts-in-kind contributions.
The revitalised space provides a safe, welcoming area for the charity’s members to enjoy every day, reinforcing Willmott Dixon’s commitment to supporting local communities.
Amaan, now Assistant Estimator with Willmott Dixon, identified FOBE as a candidate for essential refurbishment. External areas had become unusable due to deteriorating infrastructure, damaged fencing, and poor lighting, and Amaan saw how Willmott Dixon could help create lasting community impact in line with the company's sustainability ambitions.
Amaan (pictured below) said:
"It was an incredible experience leading such a passionate team. Seeing the immediate impact on the charity and its members reminded us why we do what we do—building lives and transforming communities."
The project was part of the Willmott Dixon Trainee Challenge, where trainees receive £500 seed funding to lead a community project aligned with our Now or Never sustainability strategy, supported by the Peter Willmott Foundation.
Over eight days on site, the team of volunteers from Willmott Dixon and supply chain partners contributed over 3,263 hours to the project. The team represented every level of the business, from trainees and work experience placements to directors.
The refurbishment included installation of palisade fencing and secure gates, new access routes with line marking, a retaining wall and gabion wall system, and a 17-metre pergola canopy. The team repainted the gazebo and sensory garden walls, carried out sensory garden planting and maintenance, completed electrical testing and installed new lighting to the sensory garden, and performed jet washing, cleaning, and general maintenance across the site.
The refurbishment has had a transformative effect on the charity and its users, with improved accessibility, lighting, and outdoor environment creating a safer, more inclusive, and stimulating space.
On the final day of the challenge, the team welcomed local councillors, the founder of the Friends of Bright Eyes charity Yasmin Yousaf, and the Chief Executive of Luton Council Mark Fowler, alongside directors and senior leaders from Willmott Dixon to celebrate the project's completion.
