The housebuilder has pledged to work alongside Who Cares? Scotland to support the care experienced community in Scotland. The charity is the current UK Charity of the Year, in recognition of its campaigning work which secured the Independent Care Review, an ongoing government-commissioned review of the care system.

Teams of Mactaggart & Mickel employees have volunteered to carry out essential repairs and refurbishment when young people move into their own homes for the first time.

Mactaggart & Mickel painters, plumbers, bricklayers, roughcasters and other construction trade - together with head office staff - are being released from their ‘day job’ to carry out repairs and maintenance for care experienced people, many of whom lack a family support network to help them settle in.

Marion Forbes, HR director of Mactaggart & Mickel, said: “The idea was suggested by one of our Employer of Choice champions, who realised that we could harness skills that our staff already have to benefit those who may need a helping hand.

“Most of us have a network of family and friends to guide us when we move into our first property, but Care Experienced people often don’t, so they may require additional support to tackle jobs around the home such as painting and decorating, turning off the water, or plumbing in a washing machine.”

The housebuilder arranged a series of roadshows by Who Cares? Scotland for their employees.

“We’ve had a tremendous response with dozens of people putting themselves forward to help in some way,” said Marion Forbes. “They are a credit to Mactaggart & Mickel.”

Duncan Dunlop, CEO of Who Cares? Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be working with Mactaggart & Mickel – not just because they represent our first strategic corporate partnership to support us in our work, but because they understand what we are trying to achieve and they are right behind us. They understand that young people who have been in care often have little or no family support networks to turn to when they leave their care setting, and this can make it difficult for them to settle into their own homes.

“The support that Mactaggart & Mickel can offer will help us to ensure that Care Experienced young people have the same opportunities as anyone else – with the ability to turn to a trusted supporter to help them with simple things like DIY and painting and decorating. Mactaggart & Mickel’s support is therefore both practical and confidence-building.  Our aim is that our members know they have people around them to turn to for advice and support, just as any other young person would.”

Over the coming months, Mactaggart & Mickel will provide further support for the care experienced community by offering work experience opportunities, arranging taster days on construction sites, and hosting a life skills day at its head office. Many employees have also pledged to take part in the annual Kiltwalk in Glasgow which is taking place on April 28.