Amazon volunteers transform gardens for vulnerable Durham residents

Amazon volunteers from the company's Durham fulfilment centre have spent more than three years helping Oasis Community Housing improve outdoor…

Amazon volunteers transform gardens for vulnerable Durham residents

Volunteers from Amazon have spent more than three years helping transform outdoor spaces for some of the region's most vulnerable residents.

Staff from the company’s Durham fulfilment centre have been working with Oasis Community Housing to improve garden spaces at its supported housing sites.

The North-East charity supports people facing homelessness, including young people leaving care and individuals with complex needs, by offering crisis services and supported accommodation.

Amazon employees helping out at Oasis Community city Housing site in Houghton le Spring, the charity benefited from a garden makeover

(Image: UNP)

Michael Collier, site leader at Amazon in Durham, said: "Our work with Oasis Community Housing is something we are incredibly proud of.

"Seeing the transformation of those garden spaces and knowing the difference it makes to the residents who live there is a reminder of why this kind of community work matters so much."

Volunteers from Amazon have painted furniture, created wall decorations, and turned previously overgrown garden areas into welcoming, well-kept spaces for residents to enjoy.

Sophie Barker, corporate relationships manager at Oasis Community Housing, said: "We are so grateful to the team at Amazon in Durham for their continued support over the years.

"The work they have done to transform our garden spaces has made a real and lasting difference to our residents – helping the flats feel more like a home – a place people can take pride in, relax in and, importantly, feel a part of their community."

Amazon’s support for Oasis Community Housing is part of a wider commitment to community engagement, which includes donations and employee volunteering.

The company has also co-founded the Multibank initiative with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support families in need.

The Junction Multibank, opened in 2024 with Middlesbrough charity The Junction, has already donated more than 12 million surplus goods to over 800,000 families across Wales, Scotland, Greater Manchester, London, Tees Valley and Birmingham.

This year, the Multibank will send 1 million orders to families across the UK.

The company’s community work also extends to education and logistics.

Amazon has supported more than one million students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer.

Through its pro bono logistics scheme, Amazon Local Good, the company helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need.

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Amazon also partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s Red Nose.

To date, Amazon, together with its employees, customers, and partners, has raised more than £4.8 million for Comic Relief to fund projects supporting people in the UK and around the world.

Oasis Community Housing continues to rely on corporate partnerships and community support to provide safe housing and long-term support for those in need, helping individuals rebuild their lives and work towards a brighter future.