High flying volunteer gives housing charity her support

Virgin Atlantic cabin crew member Adrienne Baker is hoping more helpers will come on board to her chosen charity. Her dream job may fly her all around the world, but, back on firm ground, Adrienne finds time to help low-income families in Liverpool get onto the property ladder by physically helping to build their homes.

After searching for something a little different to do in her spare time, Adrienne now makes Liverpool Habitat for Humanity (LHFH) a regular destination when she volunteers for the housing charity - which is providing 32 affordable homes for families with a combined income of less than £20,000 in the Granby-Toxteth area of the city.

Every week, the 25-year-old from Lowton, near Warrington, Cheshire, puts her immaculate red Virgin Atlantic uniform to one side, changes into her casual clothes, safety boots and hard hat, picks up her tools and works alongside other volunteers and the future home owners - who are substituting 500 hours of ‘sweat equity' in the construction of their new home instead of a hefty £10,000 cash deposit.

Adrienne, who has worked in the skies for just under two years, says: "The nature of my job means I have on average three days off each week and I wanted to fill some of this time with something worthwhile such as volunteer work.

"Liverpool Habitat for Humanity is perfect for me. I'm not only helping low-income families achieve their dream of getting on the property ladder but gaining valuable building skills - also I'm getting my hands dirty which is fun as it's a big change from my usual line of work."

Affiliated to global organisation Habitat for Humanity International, LHFH relies on volunteer labour for the inner-city project, working with a small nucleus of paid staff and qualified construction manager.

As well as helpers from the local community, the site on Kingsley Road has hosted volunteers from all of the UK and at least 60 different countries throughout the world, including China, Japan, Iran, America, Malaysia, France, Iceland, Finland, Mauritius, Hong Kong, Ukraine, Peru, Belgium, Australia, Madagascar, South Africa, Ethiopia, Africa, Mongolia, Afghanistan and Syria.

Rev Dr. Shannon Ledbetter, founder and chair of LHFH, says: "With help from volunteers like Adrienne we're giving families who otherwise couldn't afford to buy a home a real chance and also helping to build a community.

"We are always looking for more volunteers to join our regular helpers and Adrienne just shows that you don't need any prior experience or skills - we can find something to suit everyone.

"We also need donations of cash, materials and gifts in kind to help keep the charity on track to achieve its main objectives of providing home ownership for families on low incomes, in an area that has some of the worst deprivation factors in Western Europe."

Her job may fly her to the luxury shores of South Africa, Dubai and America but Adrienne plans to keep her wings clipped at least one day a week and continue helping on-site - with even the possibility of becoming more than a volunteer in the future.

She continues: "I'm currently living with my parents as I am never in the country long enough to commit to my own house, but you never know - I may be working on another Habitat for Humanity site in the future building my own home!"

For further information about applying for a property or volunteering with Liverpool Habitat for Humanity, e-mail: info@liverpoolhfh.org.uk.