A five-figure donation from the Highlands’ leading roofing company has provided a welcome boost for a charity supporting children and young people with severe, profound and multiple learning disabilities. Macleod Roofing has donated £10,000 to the Elsie Normington Foundation’s upcoming Dragons’ Den fundraiser, set to take place on April 25, 2025. Following this commitment, the company is now calling on other local businesses to join them in supporting this impactful event, which aims to empower Highland charities and foster community development. Elizabeth Mackintosh, who has been patron of the Foundation for three years, explained: “Next year we are holding a Dragon’s Den dinner, raising money not just for the Elsie Normington Foundation but also five local charities that might not otherwise have access to funding. “Charities will have the opportunity to put their case forward to our panel of ‘Dragons’ who will decide how the money will be divided up. “Macleod Roofing has kindly started this off with a very generous £10,000 donation. We are so grateful for their support, and hope that other businesses in the area will follow their example and support great local causes.” Sandy Macleod, managing director of Macleod Roofing, echoed Elizabeth’s sentiments, saying, “The work that the Elsie Normington Foundation does for people and families in the north of Scotland is extraordinary, so we are proud to support them in their mission to provide vital facilities in Inverness. Both Elizabeth and Elsie are true inspirations, dedicating their time and efforts to make a difference in our community. “At Macleod Roofing, we believe that supporting local charities not only strengthens the fabric of our community but also fosters a sense of connection and belonging. By investing in our neighbours, we can tackle the unique challenges we face together and create sustainable solutions that benefit everyone.  “For this reason, I’m calling on other local businesses to join the Elsie Normington Foundation in this important mission. When we come together to support local causes, we can amplify our efforts and drive meaningful change in the Highlands.” The Elsie Normington Foundation was founded 11 years ago by disability campaigner and author Elsie Normington, whose son Andrew was diagnosed with a severe and intractable form of epilepsy when he was just four years old. Realising the need for specialist services and facilities for children and young people in similar situations, and their families, she spearheaded the construction of the Haven Centre in Smithton, just outside Inverness. Over the past ten years, Elsie and a team of dedicated trustees, staff and volunteers have raised over £4 million to turn this into a reality. The Haven Centre is Scotland’s first multi-purpose centre for children and young people with severe learning disabilities, comprising a specialist play centre which is run by partners, SNAP, and includes sensory and art spaces. The Haven Centre includes 3 respite suites for short breaks, overnight stays and emergency respite. The Haven Café, which is also situated on site, is open to all and provides teas, coffees, breakfast, lunches and delicious home baking.  Elsie Normington, Chair and Visionary of the Elsie Normington Foundation said: “We decided to think out of the box to deliver a new fundraising event and came up with the Dragon’s Den format.   “This event will not only benefit the Elsie Normington Foundation but also other local charities, who will pitch to the dragons for a share of the prize pot.  Each charity taking part will receive a share of the prize pot.   “We are very excited to be launching this event and look forward to working with our sponsors and partners in the coming months to orchestrate an unforgettable event, which will not only provide a funding boost to the charities involved but also greater awareness of these fantastic local charities who do so much good in our local community.” Macleod Roofing has provided exceptional roofing services in the Highlands and the north of Scotland for over 30 years. Founded by Sandy Macleod, the firm provides a one-stop roofing service – bringing roofers, slaters, joiners, builders, plumbers and painters under the same umbrella. For more information, visit www.macleodroofing.co.uk. For more information about the Elsie Normington Foundation’s Dragons’ Charity Den, visit www.havencentre.org/dragons-charity-den-inverness and for information about the Haven Centre, visit www.havecentre.org.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Pirtek UK and Ireland, a market leading hydraulics specialist, has launched its Under the Hard Hat campaign to raise awareness of mental health in the hard hat industries. The campaign follows the company’s recent research, which showed that 94% of hard hat workers have struggled with their mental health. The Under the Hard Hat launch event took place at Pirtek’s National Training Centre in Birmingham on the 17th of October, with keynotes delivered by its partners Ollie Ollerton; best known for Channel 4’s ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’ and author of The Sunday Times bestselling book ‘Break Point’; and Lucas Whitehead, spokesperson at suicide prevention charity, Andy’s Man Club. Given that hard hat industries are often heavily male-dominated, the event emphasised the importance of breaking stigmas associated with men’s mental health. It also provided advice and resources to support mental health awareness on a broader level, regardless of gender. Adam Burrows, Managing Director of Pirtek UK and Ireland, said: “Pirtek provides services to a wide range of hard hat industries, meaning that we are in a unique position to open up more positive conversations surrounding mental health. We are also providing internal support to our network and now have mental health ambassadors in place to help do this”. The event started with Ollie Ollerton, founder of The BreakPoint Academy, sharing his personal experiences with mental health struggles and the steps he has taken to transform his life. This was followed by a presentation by Lucas Whitehead at Andy’s Man Club, which told the story of why the charity was formed and how its groups are helping thousands of men across the country. Ollie Ollerton commented: “I’m passionate about turning my experiences into a force for good by helping people transform their lives, turning mental health into mental wealth. To do this, individuals need to understand the significance of poor mental health, whether they are struggling themselves or not. This starts with spreading awareness and providing a safe space for family, friends, and colleagues to talk. Here is where businesses like Pirtek have the power to make a difference”. This sentiment supports Pirtek’s research on mental health in the hard hat industries as over half of respondents reported feeling uncomfortable or awkward talking about their mental health; four out of ten have taken time off work for mental health reasons; and 41% believe that their workplaces don’t have sufficient mental health support in place. To close the event, a panel discussion was held involving Ollerton and Whitehead along with Pirtek’s QHSE Manager, Martyn Smart and one of Pirtek’s franchise owners, Stuart Brown. Brown was chosen as a panel guest as he runs weekly group sessions on behalf of Andy’s Man Club. For more info about Under the Hard Hat, head to: https://www.pirtek.co.uk/under-the-hard-hat/ To find an Andy’s Man Club support group near you, please visit: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Sheffield’s leading construction firm, Henry Boot Construction, has teamed up with several of its supply chain partners to deliver a pro bono office fit-out for local wellbeing charity, Golddigger Trust.  Officially registered as a charity in 2007, Golddigger Trust has supported thousands of young people over the years, building positive wellbeing and empowering individuals to make affirmative, informed choices for themselves. In an age of increasing mental health challenges for young people, the demand for and importance of their services continues to grow. The Sheffield-based charity recently relocated their office from Psalter Lane to The Refinery at 197 Ecclesall Road. Previously home to Blend Kitchen, the move has seen them inherit an impressive kitchen and restaurant space downstairs. The team has decided to transform this space into a Wellbeing Café, which will offer a range of engaging wellbeing activities for the heart, body, mind and soul. The Wellbeing Café for young people launched in September and has welcomed over 100 people in that time. Its opening times are 3 to 6pm, Monday to Thursday. Golddigger Trust’s new office space is located on the floor above, and Henry Boot Construction has project managed the creation of a modern, comfortable and collaborative new workspace. As well as the office space, Henry Boot also co-ordinated the fit-out of Golddigger Trust’s new training and session spaces, including the creation of The Refine Studio, a dedicated space where young people can explore positive physical activities to support their wellbeing – such as yoga and pilates. Henry Boot chose to support the project to create significant social value for Sheffield’s young people and to invest in the legacy of the Heart of the City project completed in 2023. Henry Boot worked closely with a host of its trusted local supply chain to deliver the social value project, with Elecomm supporting with mechanical and electrical services, Barn Oak with joinery, and Global with drywall and ceiling work. Banner Plant, part of the wider Henry Boot group, donated many of the required tools free-of-charge, and C+A Design provided its architectural services pro bono, too. Tony Shaw, Managing Director from Henry Boot Construction, said: “As a business deeply rooted in Sheffield, we are always eager to give back to the city and its communities. Golddigger Trust is a remarkable organisation, supporting thousands of young people, and we are thrilled to have played a part in bringing everyone together to create an incredible new office space for them. This would not have been possible without the support of our trusted local partners and a financial donation from the Henry Boot Charity Committee– it was truly a team effort. “We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with Golddigger Trust, including welcoming them into our own office to provide some wellbeing sessions for our young employees.” Beth Stout, Chief Executive at Golddigger Trust, said: “When we set out to open The Refinery, I remember saying that we could only do it by doing it together – that it would take Sheffield stepping up to show our city’s young people that their wellbeing matters to us, and we have been overwhelmed by how Henry Boot and partners have stepped up to make this dream a reality. “We couldn’t have done it without these amazing people and their hard work will have a huge impact on the lives of thousands of young people. We are so grateful for these deeply skilled and committed people who have delivered a brilliant fit out and enabled us to open The Refinery as a beacon for young people’s wellbeing, shining out across the city to show young people that they matter. “The work that’s been achieved so far is incredible – getting us ready to help support thousands of young people across the city. But we’re not quite there yet. We’re still on the lookout for support from generous local businesses to help us finish off the kitchens and flooring. If anyone can help us with this final leg of our refurbishment journey, we’d love to hear from you.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Multi-disciplinary construction company Dowds Group swapped their offices and sites for a kitchen last month to cook up a storm and provide meals for a community in London. Dowds has partnered with Cook for Good, a non-profit organisation that works with companies to offer a combination of team building with a strong social responsibility dimension. The charity’s initiatives aim to tackle food insecurity, social isolation and health inequality in a social housing estate in King’s Cross. Dowds Group’s London team rolled up their sleeves and worked as a team to cook up 100 delicious and nutritious meals that were available to the local community the next day. “This is a great way  for the team to bond outside of the office environment, but most  importantly it was an opportunity to give back to  the community,” said James Culloty, Director of Dowds Group, London. “Almost half of those living in the King Cross housing state are below the London living wage and 1 in 4 say they are facing real financial challenges, so we hope this session has a meaningful impact.” “We loved having the Dowds Group team in the Cook for Good kitchen. They were great sports, working hard to cook up a huge amount of food for our community whilst having a load of fun along the way,” commented Miriam Emanuel, Partnerships Manager at Cook for Good. “The meals they created have been shared with two local outreach organisations, and we are investing the profits into our wider community programme, so they have created long-lasting impact, too. We would like to thank the team for choosing a charity with social impact for their teambuilding event and look forward to welcoming more teams from Dowds Group into our kitchen soon.” Cook for Good aims to provide 8,500 meals to the community between this year and the next. The organisation’s projects also include a surplus food pantry, where members spend £3.50 a week for a basket of items worth between up to £35, a community kitchen with cooking classes for Kings Cross residents and bespoke health and wellbeing programmes for key groups that need extra support. Dowds Group’s corporate responsibility activities are organised through their ‘Health Matters’ programme, which was established and chaired MD, James Dowds in 2018.  The programmes initial remit was to look at ways of improving the physical and mental wellbeing of Dowds staff, however they quickly expanded the programme to widen the benefits derived for the business and the local communities where they operate. Today, Health Matters continues to cover a wide range of initiatives promoting good physical and mental wellbeing for the Dowds team, but also charity fundraising, sponsorship and awareness campaigns, community engagement and volunteering. Managing Director, James Dowd said: “We’ve been in our Kings Cross Office for just over 18 months now and we feel very well established in the area.  Initiatives such as Cook for Good reflect our concern for the wellbeing of the Kings Cross community and provide us with the opportunity to mark our commitment to building relationships with local residents.  We hope this will be the first of many such initiatives, it is a great way to  support the community whilst allowing our team to builder stronger connections. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Panattoni, a leading global developer of industrial real estate, has successfully completed the Expo Real Charity Bike Ride 2024, cycling from Prague to the International Expo Real fair in Munich. This year’s ride aimed to support the Association of Parents and Friends of Blind and Visually Impaired Children in the Czech Republic, a long-standing organisation dedicated to assisting children with severe visual impairments. Thanks to the generous contributions of participants and other donors, the bike ride raised a total of CZK 281,287 (c. €11,000), exceeding the initial target by over 100%. A total of 33 participants, including 15 cyclists from Panattoni Czech Republic, Germany, France, Hungary, Netherlands, Spain, and Poland, took part in the event. The 3-day ride of 450 km led from Prague via Pilsen and Regensburg to Munich, where it was completed on October 6, 2024. The route was demanding, with over 3,000 meters of elevation gain, posing a significant physical and mental challenge for all participants. The main goal of the bike ride was to support the Association of Parents and Friends of Blind and Visually Impaired Children in the Czech Republic, which is dedicated to providing essential services for children with visual impairments. Donations enable the Association to organise swimming and physiotherapy programs, as well as integration meetings for children and their families. Additionally, the Association is creating a unique library of tactile books, allowing children to access literature through touch. Financial contributions made through the Emil Foundation will help these children develop their abilities and better integrate into society. As a leading global company, Panattoni is fully committed to its social responsibility. I’m delighted to see so many participants from around the world actively involved in projects like this. This event demonstrates that we can both individually and collectively help those in need,” says Artur Mokrzycki, Head of Capital Markets Europe, Panattoni. In total, 64 contributions from various donors will be used to support the activities of the Association and to directly help two specific children in need. One beneficiary is little Tobík, who will receive rehabilitation and physiotherapy to support his motor development. Another part of the funds will go to Valinka, who suffers from a rare genetic disease. These funds will be used for hippotherapy and other rehabilitation care to help slow the progression of her disease. Pavel Sovička, Managing Director of Panattoni for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, also expressed his joy at the success of this charity event: “I’m extremely proud of all my colleagues who made the challenging journey despite the autumn weather to support a good cause. Thanks to their determination, we were able to support children who truly need help. The amount raised will help the Association of Parents and Friends of Blind and Visually Impaired Children in the Czech Republic continue to provide crucial services for blind children. We were also able to support the specific cases of Tobík and Valinka, who will receive much-needed help in their fight against their serious illnesses.” Panattoni confirms it’s long-standing commitment to the “Good Neighbour” initiative and actively contributes to community development beyond its business focus through charitable and socially responsible projects. Thanks to this bike ride and generous donations, it has been able to support underprivileged children, providing resources to improve their quality of life and giving them better opportunities for further development and full integration into society. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Suppliers from across the industry recently came together to take part in Jewson’s dragon boat race tournament, one of the national builders’ merchant’s annual fundraising events for its two official charity partners, Band of Builders and Whiteleys Retreat. Taking place for a third consecutive year, more than 400 people – made up of Jewson colleagues and team members from 35 of its suppliers – were split across 25 teams, competing in a series of races at Draycote Water, ahead of a knockout round.  A grand finale took place between three teams, with the highly competitive race won by ‘Super Fast Plus’, made up of colleagues from CT1. Every year, Jewson organises a wealth of fundraising activities for Band of Builders, which supports tradespeople and their families during times of need. These include initiatives such as the annual Big Brew, which this year took place on 10th October.  The event encourages tradespeople to connect over a hot drink and discuss the different elements of their job which impact their mental health, to drive more positive conversations about wellbeing in the construction industry.  Jewson has raised more than £300,000 since it became official charity partners with Band of Builders. In 2023, Jewson announced Whiteley’s Retreat as its official charity partner for Scotland and the North. The organisation, which has a centre based in Ayrshire, provides free therapeutic respite breaks and extended support for children, young people and their families with cancer or life altering illnesses. Richard Holland, Category Manager at Jewson, said: “Each year, our dragon boat race event gets better and better. There was an incredible atmosphere amongst all participants, who were here to work together, play hard, and most importantly raise money for charities that are incredibly close to our hearts.” Tony Steel, Operations Director at Band of Builders, said: “Our partnership with Jewson continues to thrive, and the dragon boat race is just one example of the brilliant ideas Jewson has to continue supporting our charity, and the people who benefit from it. “The money raised from this year’s event will go towards some of the many tradespeople and their families that we’ll be working with in coming months, ensuring they have the tools and support they need to get back on track and rebuild their lives.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A national construction charity is marking this year’s World Mental Health Day by renewing its efforts to signpost tradespeople and construction workers to places where they can get support for their mental health. This is made all the more important in the wake of the devastating collapse of major construction company. The call by the organisers of the Big Brew comes as shockwaves continue to affect the construction industry. Not only has the 2,200-strong workforce made redundant but there has also been a huge knock-on effect throughout the supply chain – with material suppliers and subcontractors being left high and dry. Speaking ahead of the start of the fourth annual Big Brew – a campaign organised by Band of Builders (BoB) – CEO Gavin Crane believes there needs to be greater visibility and accessibility of mental health services and support “now more than ever before” for construction workers and tradespeople. “The Big Brew campaign was conceived to shine a light on the mental health crisis in the construction industry, and to do this it’s timed to coincide with World Mental Health Day each year,” said Gavin. “Construction is a challenging industry at the best of times, but recent events have escalated the mental health crisis to unprecedented levels and providing mental health and support scaffolding for everyone who works in it is needed now more than ever before – as the suicide rate in our industry is estimated to be as high as two people every day. “Research from our Media partner On the Tools has found that 93% of UK tradespeople have experienced mental ill health in some way. The findings also showed that tradespeople are 26% more likely than workers in other industries to experience these challenges and that less than a third (32%) of employed UK tradespeople who have struggled with mental health problems have access to free counselling or helplines from their employers.” Gavin added: “We feel that one way that we can make a positive difference is through the Big Brew – which encourages construction industry workers and tradespeople to come together over a cuppa to support one another and remove the taboo around mental health in the sector. “Inspired by the Macmillan Coffee Morning, the Big Brew offers a simple, familiar way for workers to come together, support each other, and break down the stigma surrounding mental health in the construction industry.” This year’s campaign is shaping up to be the best yet – especially in the builders’ merchant sector, where SIG Roofing and Jewson between them will be hosting Big Brews at more than 170 of their branches right across the UK. And for the second year, a Big Brew will be held by Jewson in conjunction with On the Tools, who will livestream a panel discussion from Jewson Castleford about how to break down the stigma surrounding mental health, with representatives from Jewson, JPS and BoB. The stream will be available on the Jewson Facebook page. The Big Brew campaign has been able to fund a wellbeing service, which supports members of the UK construction sector by providing a free 24-hour counselling service offering support and guidance from a trained counsellor. This can be accessed from https://bandofbuilders.org/pages/wellbeing-support. It’s also funded a 24 hours a day text service (text BOB to 85258) that can be accessed at any time to get help or support. And recently, NHS England teamed up with BoB to promote NHS Talking Therapies. Gavin summed up this year’s Big Brew by praising the commitment of all those who will be hosting events throughout the month. “It’s amazing to see the Big Brew go from strength to strength, with more events being hosted each year,” he said. “And given all that’s gone on recently, the Big Brew is well timed. But it’s important to note that Big Brews can be held at any time of year. For example, our Landscaping Partner Talasey always hosts an event around Blue Monday in January, as it’s supposedly the most depressing day of the year. “As the mental health crisis in construction continues to deepen, now is the time for everyone in the industry—whether you’re a worker, employer, or supporter—to take action. Hosting or attending a Big Brew is a simple but powerful way to make a difference. By coming together over a cuppa, we can break the silence around mental health and offer vital support to those who need it. Get involved today, and let’s work together to ensure that no one in our industry faces these challenges alone.” To get hold of a Big Brew kit, go to https://bandofbuilders.org/pages/the-big-brew Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The OurJay Foundation based in Rugby, Warwickshire has partnered with master developer Urban&Civic and Turtle Defib Cabinets, to introduce the country’s first wind and solar powered defibrillator cabinet on a residential development site. The sustainably heated, public defibrillator cabinet has been installed in Urban&Civic’s new community of Houlton in Rugby. OurJay and Urban&Civic had already worked together in recent years to install defibrillators in the new community at the local schools and the village centre at Houlton. But with another 4,000 homes still to build at Houlton, the charity approached the developer to introduce Turtle and their new solar and wind powered cabinet solution to enable defib access in construction areas. Designed and manufactured by Turtle, the solar defib cabinet is the twelfth to be installed in the UK, and the first on a residential development site. Turtle’s combined solar and wind power technology ensures a cabinet can be kept heated 24/7, even when there’s no electricity supply. Defibrillators must maintain a temperature above 0 degrees, but above 10 degrees is recommended, so they need to be kept indoors or be in a heated cabinet if external. Solar power alone cannot guarantee the maintenance of temperature in dark and cold UK winters, but this new technology is enabling defibrillators to be installed in areas where electricity supply may be restricted like construction areas. For every minute that someone’s in cardiac arrest without receiving CPR or having a defibrillator used on them, their chance of survival decreases by 10 per cent. The OurJay Foundation was founded by Naomi, a Rugby resident, after she sadly lost her son Jamie due to the lack of an accessible defibrillator nearby, which could have saved his life. It proudly stands as one of the Houlton community’s chosen charities. Naomi Rees-Issitt, the founder of the OurJay Foundation, said: “We are so grateful to the team at Urban&Civic for seeing Jamie’s legacy and inspiration and making sure we could achieve this vital piece of life saving equipment for the Houlton community. Heart safety is becoming so much more important to people and through our partnership with Urban&Civic, Houlton now have a defibrillator for every 300 units – this is very unique and we are very proud of this. Thank you also to Turtle for manufacturing such a fantastic idea in this sustainable defibrillator option.” A video featuring Naomi speaking about OurJay Foundation’s work and the wind and solar powered cabinet at Houlton can be found here. Sonia Nakra-Norman, Communications and Partnerships Manager at Urban&Civic explained: “We’re proud of our ongoing partnership with the OurJay Foundation in Houlton – it has been informative and inspiring to work with this local charity and whilst we always hope not to have to use our defibrillators, they provide reassurance to our community and those working on our development sites.” Mike Dowson, Founder and MD of Turtle Defib Cabinets, who designed, engineered and installed the wind and solar powered defib cabinet technology, commented: “Developers and contractors can deliver far greater reaching benefits when they partner with local charities, and bespoke needs – like a lack of community accessible defib cabinets – can be uncovered and addressed. We’re delighted to help OurJay and Urban&Civic achieve their goals at Houlton and applaud them for their partnership. Location and an electricity supply is no longer a barrier when it comes to being prepared for cardiac arrest emergencies, and we thank OurJay Foundation for championing this message with our wind and solar powered defib cabinet in Houlton.” Located on the former Rugby Radio Station site to the eastern edge of Rugby, the development of Houlton is a joint venture between master developer Urban&Civic and Aviva Investors. With over 1200 families now living on site as well as a village centre, community centre, two schools and a nursery, the Houlton community continues to grow with outline planning permission for 6,200 homes over the next 10-15 years. To learn more about Houlton and Urban&Civic, visit www.urbanandcivic.com. Visit www.ourjay.org.uk to find out about and support the OurJay Foundation. For more information about Turtle’s defib cabinets, bleed control cabinets and the equipment to place inside, please visit www.turtledefibcabinets.co.uk, or follow on LinkedIn, Facebook and X. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals