Summer students and interns were given a day off work to lend a helping hand to three charities on the Island.

About 25 interns from Ace and PricewaterhouseCoopers spent the day volunteering at different project sites.

They painted murals in a sensory room at autism charity Tomorrow's Voices, took soil samples, measurements and photos for a healthy harvest project with Greenrock and carried out conservation work with the Bermuda National Trust.

The projects were part of a community day organised by the Centre on Philanthropy. It is one of three held each year.

Jennifer Burland Adams, development and engagement manager at the Centre, said the community days started in 2008 after corporate members stated they wanted to give employees more opportunities to give back.

In the past, employee volunteers have painted longtail igloos, restored cannons and cleaned up the mangroves, she added.

Alanah Bacon, 19, an Ace intern, said her team spent the day painting and sanitising toys for the autistic children at Tomorrow's Voices.

They painted characters like Thomas the Engine in the bathroom to encourage children of potty training age to use the toilet.

Miss Bacon said: "It has been a lot of fun. We didn't really know what we would be doing once we got here but once they gave us our jobs we were really looking forward to helping out."

Connor Ruberry, 20, another intern at Ace, said: "It feels really good (to volunteer) and I think it is an experience to get to be around children with disabilities and just to get to know more about it."

According to Kimberly Mills, executive director of the charity, the day was "fantastic".

"It has exceeded my expectations on every level. The volunteers are so hard working and enthusiastic and talented. The beautification of the bathroom is just amazing. They just worked all morning."

For more information on the Centre on Philanthropy and its projects visit www.centreonphilanthropy.org.