A volunteer team from the Midcounties Co-operative has been shortlisted for an award in recognition of its work to transform a Shropshire community centre and encourage more people to use the venue.

Clive Bosel, manager of the Bicton Heath food store, led a team of colleagues who redecorated the Bayston Hill Youth and Community Centre, Shrewsbury, in one project and then returned to clear the overgrown garden.

The return challenge, carried out on Give and Gain Day Business in the Community’s national day of action, saw the group create a reading area to encourage children to spend time in the garden to read on their own or with others.

Clive said: “It was hard work but we enjoyed doing it. It enabled us to give something back to the community and to get together and build on our own team skills.

“Colleagues from the store plus four area managers, who look after our convenience stores, took part.

“And we were delighted when we found out our work has been shortlisted for a Business in the Community Cares Award.”

The project was organised through Cares, the national employee volunteering initiative of Business in the Community, which gives employers the chance to make a positive impact in their community. It also demonstrated the Midcounties Healthy Community Campaign which is running until June 20 to raise awareness of the benefits the society brings to the county. Midcounties has more than 30 businesses and employs more than 500 people in Shropshire.

It has traded since 1865 and has more than 17,000 co-operative members in the community. In the year ending February 2009 it donated more than £63,000 to local community projects and gave more than £14,000 worth of colleagues’ time and support to projects.

The Bayston Hill scheme is one of more than 100 community projects to benefit from Midcounties’ support.

The community building is owned and managed by Bayston Hill Parish Council.

Chairman Mrs Hazel Jones said: “We really appreciate the time and hard work that Clive and his team put in. They all did a great job. We needed to make improvements so we could get more people to use the building and realise its full potential. We could not have done it without Midcounties’ help.”

Phil Hunt, partnership broker with Business in the Community, put forward the scheme to Midcounties when he found out the team was looking for a challenge.

The Cares Award winners will be announced later this month.