A CARING development sales manager from Miller Homes Southern is getting ready to take part in a charity trip of a lifetime.

Shannon Downey, from Reading, will be helping to build new homes for orphans and vulnerable children in Africa as part of the annual Habitat for Humanity Global Village trip to the district of Salima in Malawi, alongside 17 of her Miller Homes work colleagues.

This is the second year the national housebuilder has taken part in the trip and as well as the physical construction of the new homes, the team will witness first-hand how a safe and secure home can benefit many aspects of life for the immediate family and wider community.

Shannon, who works at the Burghfield Park site, said: "This is an incredible opportunity to share our knowledge and expertise and give something back.

"I’m proud to be part of an organisation that cares so much about investing in others, and importantly, helping to re-build lives.

"Having personally raised money for charities in the past through skydives and other physical challenges, helping people is a big part of who I am and it didn’t take long for me to volunteer for this trip alongside my colleagues.

"I’m sure we’ll take a lot from the experience and I can’t wait to get stuck in."

Although the trip is being funded by Miller Homes, each volunteer must raise £1,000 for Habitat for Humanity as part of their commitment to the trip.

Raising the funds for the southern region, Shannon is bravely taking on a skydive.

Manuela Campbell, head of operations and strategy at Habitat for Humanity, said: "We are thrilled that Miller Homes are returning to Malawi with Habitat for Humanity, building on their financial and time investment and demonstrating a continued commitment to addressing housing poverty around the world.

"Their fundraising and the hard work they will put in on the construction site will help transform the lives of vulnerable families in Malawi.

"Every brick they lay is a critical step to a new, better life.”

For more information on Miller Homes’ fundraising efforts, visit https://giving.habitatforhumanity.org.uk/cf/Miller-Homes-Malawi-2019.