The residents of a seniors' complex will soon be enjoying freshly painted homes thanks to a bank's volunteer scheme.

The Bank of Bermuda has launched its Community Action Day Project of 2008 and, as part of a series of initiatives, staff are painting the homes at the Elizabeth Hills Senior Citizen complex, which is one of Bermuda Housing Trust's properties.

The Community Action Day project offers every staff member a half day off to volunteer time for one of three initiatives focusing on the environment, education and the community.

In launching the programme, employees have volunteered as observers for the Bermuda Criteria Testing, set by the Department of Education for public school students; this week they will be painting the homes at Elizabeth Hills and later this year will be removing invasive species and replanting endemic plants at nature reserves across the Island.

Bank of Bermuda chief executive officer Philip Butterfield thanked those who had volunteered for this week's project.

He said: "By focusing on the senior population we hope we can give back to those who gave so much to make Bermuda the success story is today.

"We partnered with the Bermuda Housing Trust in 2006 with the construction of the Rockaway Seniors Complex and are pleased to be joining forces with them in this worthwhile endeavour. "Since launching the Community Action Day programme in 2006, we have steadily increased the number of staff who have volunteered in a range of community projects.

"We hope that these projects not only raise awareness and the level of volunteerism within our staff but throughout the wider community."

Chairman of the Bermuda Housing Trust Ronald Simmons said: "We at the Bermuda Housing Trust are truly grateful to the Bank of Bermuda for its continued and valuable support to our organisation and for sharing in our commitment to provide quality, affordable housing for our seniors, "We would also like to extend our thanks to all of the Bank of Bermuda employees who dedicated their time and effort to such a worthy project as this."

One resident, Olive Bailey, aged 74, said: "Thank you Mr. Butterfield. I'm sure my neighbours will enjoy themselves.

"There are many people who make promises to us and never follow through. I want to thank you all for following through."

Bank employee Roydelle Henry, who works in the Network Service Centre, said: "I'm grateful to help out, especially knowing that we are doing this for the seniors. I enjoy working with seniors."

Another employee Colleen Gibbons, who lost every thing to a house fire earlier this year, said: "Seniors are my passion.

"When we were given the opportunity to sign up for the volunteer experience and I saw seniors was an option I said 'yes, that's me right there'. I love the idea that we can give back to them."