Students from Lincoln College’s Painting & Decorating diploma course have been celebrating after they received a paint donation from the Dulux Decorator Centre on Great Northern Terrace, to complete a voluntary painting project at the Lincolnshire YMCA.

The Lincolnshire YMCA, which offers supported housing for 76 residents is well used and its interior was in desperate need of a refreshing makeover. The YMCA team contacted Paul Wilcockson, course leader of the painting and decorating diploma at Lincoln College, who rallied a team of student volunteers to carry out the paint work and made an application to Dulux Decorator Centres for a paint donation as part of the company’s ‘Colouring the Community’ scheme.

Paints in subtle tones of magnolia and white were chosen for the project to give the YMCA a fresh, clean and neutral feel.

Ten of the full time diploma students have been involved in the ongoing voluntary project and, accompanied by their tutors, have so far painted a number of the corridors at the centre and plan to continue with the work for the rest of the academic year.

Paul Wilcockson, said: “Being involved in this project is a great way for our full time diploma students to gain some real painting and decorating experience while giving something back to the community. The donation of paint from Dulux Decorator Centres provided us with a real head start and the ability to decorate more areas than would otherwise have been possible.”

Steve Brewer, store manager at Dulux Decorator Centres Lincoln, said: “This project is a great opportunity for painting and decorating students to gain practical experience, and the centre was in desperate need of a makeover, so we were delighted to make the donation of paint for this great cause.”

The paint was donated as part of Dulux Decorator Centres’ Colouring the Community scheme, which aims to help local community groups and charities restore their premises. Local charities wishing to apply for a Colouring the Community award can find their nearest store, and apply online, by visiting www.duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk.

Dulux Decorator Centres is the UK’s leading decorating specialist offering expert advice to help accomplish any decorating job – big or small. Each centre carries a wide range of products, from paint to wallpaper, accessories and tools, as well as a decorator recommendation service.