David Gandy calls on privileged to do more for charity as he launches nationwide initiative to get people helping their communities

David Gandy has urged the rich and famous to devote more of their time and efforts to charity as he took time out of his own hectic schedule to help refurbish a school in central London.

The supermodel and designer spoke to The Independent after joining teams renovating two classrooms at the Maria Fidelis school for a new nationwide initiative called Spark Something Good. The scheme, which has been launched by Marks & Spencer, aims to encourage people across the UK to donate time to their local communities. Gandy and hundreds of other volunteers kick-started the initiative on Wednesday by completing 24 project in community hubs across London within 24 hours.

Gandy is also about to be an announced as an ambassador for Achievement for All (AFA), a charity working with children who are considered vulnerable, disadvantaged or have learning difficulties, and their families to engage and encourage their aspirations, giving them a better chance at success.

Maria Fidelis’s new classrooms were purpose built to support the learning of AFA children at that school, tying both schemes together. “The school needed a safe, secure environment for these children,” said Gandy. “It’s a pioneering idea for M&S and AFA, but it worked together brilliantly.

“Spark Something Good involves a huge variety of projects and provides a way for people to help when they might not have the opportunity to donate financially. It’s just all hands on deck. A lot people want to volunteer and it has created a platform where people can go on a website, find what’s going on around them and get involved.”

Gandy, who works with a number of charitable organisations, including Battersea Dogs Home and Style for Soldiers, is conscious of the prosperous life his success has afforded him. “I think it would be good to see more people, and more famous people doing something; I think we are all in a very privileged position. That’s one of the reasons that I think it’s a priority for people in the public eye to choose a charity and give their time to them.

“We are very fortunate whatever we do, we aren’t anything special, we aren’t doing anything to help save lives or curing cancer, but we are very fortunate to be in the position that we are so we should give back. Personally I don’t think there is enough charity work in the fashion industry, but obviously M&S have come on board here and it’s a great campaign.”