A scheme to get businesses involved with the community is looking for firms to take part in its latest projects.

One Brighton and Hove has published its summer calendar of opportunities for volunteers and needs more helpers.

The charitable organisation encourages companies in the city to develop staff through voluntary work.

It has many of the city's biggest employers, including Legal and General and American Express, as regular contributors.

There is something going on almost every day until the end of August.

Projects include: Painting a room for a playgroup; gardening at a family centre; constructing play equipment; mentoring members of voluntary organisations and conservation work.

Volunteers are given training and will be supervised with the opportunity to develop their communication, listening, training and management skills and, in turn, both the company and the employee will be helping to improve the city.

One Brighton and Hove spokesman Tom Grealy said: "This type of volunteering is great public relations for the company and a great staff development tool.

"It benefits the community and motivates staff in only a couple of hours a month.

"Skills in demand range from information technology, public relations, accountancy, hum-an resources, customer services, building and general management - whatever skills and experience volunteers have, there is someone they could support."

Sam Self, social club manager with American Express, is mentoring Bernadette Dawes, manager of the Valley Social Centre in Whitehawk.

Bernadette said: "Having someone with experience to bounce ideas off of is great.

"It's proving to be a mutually-beneficial partnership which is having a positive impact on my working life."

The calendar is available from Kelly Dibbert at the Business Community Partnership on 01273 770075 or by e-mail: brighton@bitc.org.uk.