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 –
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
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.
Henry Boot Construction and Latimer buried a time capsule at The Cocoa Works site in York on Friday, honouring the iconic former Rowntree Factory ahead of the new residential scheme’s completion in winter 2024. Representatives from contractor Henry Boot Construction, developer Latimer by Clarion Housing Group, Haxby Primary Academy, St
Building Heroes, the leading tri-service military charity dedicated to facilitating the transition from military to civilian careers within the construction sector is proud to announce that Thakeham has renewed its Bronze Sponsoring Partnership. Partnering with Thakeham, a leading housebuilder renowned for its commitment to sustainability and community-focused developments, underscores our
Bloor Homes has announced it is a company supporter of The Lighthouse Construction Charity, the only charity dedicated to the emotional, physical and financial wellbeing of construction workers and their families. Hannah Burgess, HR Director at Bloor Homes said: “The Lighthouse’s mission is very clear. It shows that every day
Commercial interior design and fit out company APSS has created a stunning interior design for Lincolnshire charity Naomi’s Garden part of a volunteer project bringing together construction and professional service companies across Lincolnshire. Louth-based Naomi’s Garden provides a conductive education and special education needs consultancy. It also provides Bowen Therapy
wienerberger UK & Ireland, a leading provider of solutions across the building envelope, has launched a new partnership with charity Emmaus UK as it begins to implement its first ever social impact strategy. Under the agreement, wienerberger will contribute £10,000 to Emmaus UK’s Companion Training Fund. The programme provides grants
An apartment used as a ‘home from home’ by the parents of children undergoing treatment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge has been given a facelift by the developer which built the property. Staff from Countryside Homes have carried out a full redecoration of the one-bedroom home at its Aura development
GMI Construction Group has launched its Construction Cares programmes, bringing all its community, employability and wellbeing projects under one banner. Led by GMI’s Responsible Business Team, Construction Cares will deliver and support a range of activities in the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Midlands where the construction company operates.
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
Henry Boot Construction and Latimer buried a time capsule at The Cocoa Works site in York on Friday, honouring the iconic former Rowntree Factory ahead of the new residential scheme’s completion in winter 2024. Representatives from contractor Henry Boot Construction, developer Latimer by Clarion Housing Group, Haxby Primary Academy, St George’s Primary, and York College gathered at the celebratory event on Friday 4 October, to bury the time capsule. The time capsule has been buried with a book depicting the entire history of The Cocoa Works, alongside heritage items found by the site team during the redevelopment process at the former chocolate factory. This includes a newspaper dating back to 1980, an original Aero chocolate bar, confectionary packaging (After Eight and Black Magic from 1933), book records from the on-site Library (1973), scratch cards from 1970, and payslips from previous workers dating back to 1980. Sam Thompson, whose mother worked at the factory for 32 years and her grandfather for 48 years, also donated a photo from her mother’s induction day back in 1973. Objects from local schools and colleges also featured in the capsule. Haxby Primary Academy added a school jumper and all classes wrote a letter explaining what life is like at the academy in 2024, St George’s Primary included a school jumper and information about the history of the school and chocolate in York, and York College contributed a memory stick with photos and information about the college. York’s community-run riverside walk, The Foss Fairy Trail, provided a fairy keyring, and letters from Latimer’s 2020 ‘Sweet Memories’ campaign were added, too. This memories campaign saw former Rowntree Factory workers, along with their families and friends, share their accounts of what life was like during that time, and how the Rowntree family is remembered. Community engagement has been key throughout the project. Jack Kidder, Responsible Business Manager at Henry Boot, said: “It’s a real privilege to be part of this project, sensitively reforming this iconic York landmark in a way that will help to recapture the pride, character, and social aspect that once thrived in the days when it was an operational chocolate factory. “And this time capsule burial is a crucial milestone in the project. It marks our collaboration with Latimer and local schools to leave a lasting, positive legacy on this historical site. “It forms a vital part of our social value plan for The Cocoa Works, demonstrating both our collaboration with the local community and our commitment to maximising the social benefits for people who live in the area.” The time capsule is the final component of Henry Boot Construction’s social value delivery on the scheme. Other social value outputs on the project have included: hosting site visits for schools, providing work experience placements for York College students, and raising over £10,000 for Place2Be and Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, to name a few. Volunteers from Henry Boot Construction, together with key partners, also helped significantly smarten up the much-loved Foss Fairy Trail on the banks of York’s River Foss last year. Richard Cook, Chief Development Officer at Clarion Housing Group, said: “We are delighted to be part of this moment in York’s history. The burial of the time capsule reflects our continued commitment to preserving the rich heritage of The Cocoa Works, while creating homes that will shape the future of this vibrant community. It’s a privilege to join Henry Boot Construction, local schools, and the community in ensuring that this project leaves a lasting legacy for generations to come.” The Cocoa Works is a major £52m residential development in York – once known as ‘The Chocolate City’ – seeing the iconic Rowntree Factory transformed into 279 high-quality apartments. The project includes a sensitive restoration of the iconic Rowntree Factory, alongside the construction of a new Pavilion and refurbishment of Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library to the front of the development. The Rowntree Factory was originally built by Joseph Rowntree in the 1890s, and prior to redevelopment, the eight-hectare site of historical significance was derelict for over a decade. The new design ensures the original features of the building are celebrated and incorporated. The project team includes the developer Latimer by Clarion Housing Group, the lead contractor, Henry Boot Construction, and Weedon Architects. Construction began at The Cocoa Works in October 2021 and is scheduled for completion in winter 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Building Heroes, the leading tri-service military charity dedicated to facilitating the transition from military to civilian careers within the construction sector is proud to announce that Thakeham has renewed its Bronze Sponsoring Partnership. Partnering with Thakeham, a leading housebuilder renowned for its commitment to sustainability and community-focused developments, underscores our mission to collaborate with industry trailblazers that align with our values of service and excellence and are committed to providing opportunities for the armed forces community within the construction industry. Since its foundation in 2014, Building Heroes has supported the transition of over 3,400 graduates into civilian life by offering access to barrier-free construction training programmes. As a recipient of the Queen’s Award and celebrating a decade of significant impact, the charity continues to work with educational partners and industry leaders to accelerate learning that leads to employment or self-employment in construction, infrastructure, and sustainable building sectors. Thakeham’s sponsorship of Building Heroes strengthens a shared commitment to supporting armed forces personnel, advancing construction skills training, and fostering community development. This ongoing collaboration was recently showcased when Thakeham team members joined Building Heroes at a British Forces Resettlement Service careers event, jointly engaging with service leavers to explore various career opportunities in construction. On September 30th, learners from the Basingstoke Building Heroes Academy experienced a comprehensive site tour at Thakeham’s Welborne development in Hampshire. This visit provided an in-depth view of the complex stages of development, highlighting Thakeham’s commitment to sustainable building practices. Sarah Crush, Social Value Manager at Thakeham, commented, “We are committed to helping veterans and reservists find a rewarding career in construction by providing the necessary skills and employment pathways. Our partnership with Building Heroes supports active service members and veterans transition into civilian life via work placements and site tours as part of the charity’s academy programmes. Our dedication to helping the armed forces community is unwavering. Last year, we received a Gold award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, the highest level of recognition available to organisations who pledge, demonstrate and advocate support for, and align their values with, the Armed Forces Covenant. With less than 200 national recipients of this accolade, we are the only south east housebuilder to achieve this status.” CEO of Building Heroes, Chris Charles, added, “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Thakeham. Our decision to renew the partnership with Thakeham is a testament to their leadership in sustainable development and their unwavering commitment to quality, the Armed Forces community, and the local communities within which they work. This collaboration not only strengthens our ability to support the Armed Forces community though our training programmes but also enhances our learners’ experiences with direct involvement in modern, high-quality housing developments through on-site visits and work placements at Thakeham. We are immensely grateful for Thakeham’s ongoing support, which enriches our charity’s work and provides our learners with deeper industry insights, thereby expanding their career opportunities in the construction sector.” Both organisations are enthusiastic about continuing this rewarding collaboration and eagerly anticipate further success stories as learners transition into rewarding careers, enhanced by the skills and industry knowledge acquired through Building Heroes’ programmes. For more information about Building Heroes and their programmes, please visitwww.buildingheroes.org.uk. For further details on Thakeham and their projects, please visit www.thakeham.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bloor Homes has announced it is a company supporter of The Lighthouse Construction Charity, the only charity dedicated to the emotional, physical and financial wellbeing of construction workers and their families. Hannah Burgess, HR Director at Bloor Homes said: “The Lighthouse’s mission is very clear. It shows that every day two construction workers in the UK take their own life, while stress, depression and anxiety accounts for 27% of all work-related illness in the industry. The Charity has set out to reduce the number of construction industry suicides and improve workforce in a number of ways. “As well as its free 24/7 helpline it provides free and accessible key support services for everyone in the industry – and their families – and it addresses the root causes early on, tackling three areas of wellbeing: emotional, physical and financial early on to drive change.” For example, alongside its crucial ‘Get Help Now’ resources, support extends to providing aid to families in crisis from food to financial support, and critical interventions when required. For those struggling physically or financially, The Lighthouse can help on a wider range of issues from requiring occupational health support or struggling with addiction, to debt management and retirement planning. In addition, the Charity is pioneering awareness at all levels across the industry via its Wellbeing Academy. It offers a range of courses designed to promote understanding around people’s own mental health whilst also providing them with the skills and knowledge to look out for colleagues. And The Lighthouse is taking awareness to the frontline of construction through its #makeitvisible campaign, travelling to construction sites around the country to ‘meet the boots on the ground and get them talking’. Hannah continues; “This aspect of the charity’s work really impressed us as it brings it to everyone working on our sites whether they are directly employed, contracted or subcontracted. It’s an all-encompassing approach. We are looking forward to rolling out a series of dedicated site visits from The Lighthouse in the coming months.” The visits will include a ‘Toolbox Talk’ and the opportunity for a one-to-one chat. Meanwhile Bloor Homes is also ensuring teams across its regional head offices and extended site teams are aware of the Charity and its work by sharing communications with every person working with the developer. By doing so, Bloor Homes aims to create – and reiterate – as many opportunities for people to access as much support as possible, complementing its established Employee Assistance Programme. For more information and to access the wide range of support and engagement available to construction workers and their families visit lighthouseclub.org/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Commercial interior design and fit out company APSS has created a stunning interior design for Lincolnshire charity Naomi’s Garden part of a volunteer project bringing together construction and professional service companies across Lincolnshire. Louth-based Naomi’s Garden provides a conductive education and special education needs consultancy. It also provides Bowen Therapy along with running a Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) in conjunction with Lincolnshire County Council. Conductive education is based on a ‘simple’ concept of human potential, meaning that everyone has the capability to learn and develop irrespective of their starting point. The Bowen technique comprises a series of precise movements over muscle and connective tissue to naturally assist the body in re-balancing and re-setting itself. Between each set of moves there is a pause allowing the nervous system to adjust the tension level in the muscles. The charity is currently raising funds for its new HQ in Manby Park near Louth to transform it from a motorcycle repair shop into a fit-for-purpose facility, where it can deliver its life-changing services to more people who need them. APSS designer Caitlin Maginess created the interior concept which steered away from a usual clinical interior and made it a more welcoming and fun experience for the children and adults who require the services. Caitlin said: “It was important to have a home away from home for people to visit, so we focused on creating a homely feel with a contemporary industrial design using a lot of soft furnishings. “There are areas within the design where we toned the concept down to focus on the needs of the people who will be using the space. “In addition to providing the primary service, there will be a space for people and businesses to rent out for classes like Zumba or spinning and birthday parties. There is also a communal kitchen that everyone can use in addition to therapy rooms, meeting rooms and counselling rooms as well as the classroom which will be the heart of the facility.” When complete, the new centre will enable the charity to extend its working hours, provide group sessions and create a dynamic learning environment for all – no matter what their disability – resulting in 50% more adults and children being supported each year. The building will also give them the option to run group sessions and be used for the wider community. Sarah-Jayne Walker, Lead Conductor at Naomi’s Garden, said: “When we received the designs from APSS, I cried. We were blown away with how beautiful they were and exactly what we were after. “Now we need to continue our fundraising journey while we gather as many Lincolnshire-based companies to make this dream a reality. We are in awe at the generosity we have already received from these local companies and businesses along with other charities who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us. “We currently have a waiting list across Lincolnshire who are keen to benefit from the unique therapy we provide. We desperately need our new more accessible hub to be functional so we can continue our work and expand to help those families who are relying on us as the only service provider of our kind in our area.” To make a donation towards Naomi’s Garden’s new premises please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/naomis-gardens-big-move?utm_campaign=p_nacp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
wienerberger UK & Ireland, a leading provider of solutions across the building envelope, has launched a new partnership with charity Emmaus UK as it begins to implement its first ever social impact strategy. Under the agreement, wienerberger will contribute £10,000 to Emmaus UK’s Companion Training Fund. The programme provides grants to residents of Emmaus UK communities, enabling them to acquire valuable skills and qualifications for employment. Priority will be given, when feasible, to allocating funds for companions interested in pursuing training and education opportunities within the broader construction industry. The partnership will also allow for product donations to build and/or renovate Emmaus UK’s buildings, and opportunities for wienerberger’s employees to volunteer for the charity “Emmaus is really excited about the future of our partnership with wienerberger. With the combination of a corporate donation, colleague fundraising, training opportunities and product donations, we look forward to seeing the positive impact this partnership will have on our companions and communities,” commented Robyn Cummins, Director of Fundraising and Influence, Emmaus UK. There is a growing crisis of housing insecurity within the UK, with the housing and homeless charity Shelter estimating that over one million households are waiting for social homes and at least 300,000 people are estimated as homeless in England, with a 27% rise in rough sleeping in the past year alone. wienerberger’s inaugural social impact strategy focuses on addressing housing insecurity through meaningful action. The initiative aims to prevent individuals from losing their homes, support those at risk, and assist people experiencing housing crises in rebuilding their lives. The programme is a key component of wienerberger’s broader sustainability strategy, “Let’s Build Beyond,” which is dedicated to supporting communities throughout the UK and Ireland. The company’s social impact strategy also includes proactive actions to prevent homelessness, such as working with vulnerable groups to offer support through work experience and skills development. This includes young care leavers, who have experienced a 33% increase in homelessness in the past five years. wienerberger will offer work taster days in partnership with Greater Manchester Youth Network at the company’s Head Office in Cheadle, Stockport. Simon Nevitt, Chief Manufacturing Officer at wienerberger UK & Ireland said: “We have a responsibility as a leading provider of building solutions to create value for our communities and play an active role in the areas in which we operate. Our social impact strategy is just the beginning of our commitment that will deliver ambitious, positive and long-lasting impact for our people, our partners, and our communities.” Further efforts to tackle homelessness and deliver social value include collaborating with the supply chain, making targeted product donations to improve public amenities, and direct engagement with community groups and schools. Through its social impact strategy, wienerberger also aims to engage its employees in causes that are close to their hearts. This includes support for personal fundraising, and a Community Fund for each UK location. Causes that have been nominated by employees to receive Community Fund support to date range from a dog rescue centre, a dementia community café, sports teams, a memorial garden, hospices, and a charity supporting homeless families. To find out more read wienerberger UK & Ireland’s social impact strategy here – https://www.wienerberger.co.uk/about-us/sustainability/social-impact.html. To explore wienerberger UK & Ireland’s product donation guidelines and apply, visit its website – Product Donations | Wienerberger UK Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
An apartment used as a ‘home from home’ by the parents of children undergoing treatment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge has been given a facelift by the developer which built the property. Staff from Countryside Homes have carried out a full redecoration of the one-bedroom home at its Aura development in Trumpington as part of the company’s ongoing support of the Rhys Daniels Trust. The charity, which provides free accommodation for families close to specialist children’s hospitals across the UK, bought the apartment at Aura – just a five-minute drive from Addenbrooke’s – four years ago Countryside, which is now part of the Vistry Group, agreed to help maintain the property for 10 years, including carrying out regular redecorations and other essential works. The latest redecoration took place earlier this year after Nicky Brody, manager at the Trust, reached out to Vistry to see if they could help. Chris Overton, customer service director at Vistry Central Home Counties, said: “Nicky called the customer service team in the year and asked if we could do a few bits of touching up, but we said it would make more sense for us to carry out a full redecoration as it would look better for new guests for the year. “We’ve kept to the original colour of white as it does not age and we hope this will create a more welcoming and relaxing environment for parents at what must be an incredibly stressful and difficult time of their lives. “Nicky and the team don’t like to ask, but we are here to help should they need us. The Rhys Daniels Trust is such an incredible charity and one we’re extremely proud to support. Painting a few rooms may seem like a small thing to us but it can make a huge difference to the families who stay here while their child is undergoing treatment.” Nicky Brody, Manager at the Rhys Daniels Trust, said: “For the past four years, since the Trust purchased the flat at the Aura development in Trumpington, the team at Countryside Homes has been very supportive of what we do here at the charity. Right from the start they signalled their support by furnishing the apartment free of charge, which was a huge help. “The team has been providing maintenance services at the flat since we have been here, ensuring that the families that stay here are at their most comfortable, to help make it as stress-free as possible for them. “We are celebrating our 30th anniversary this year and would not be able to be here without the support of some truly wonderful companies. On that note, we would like to say a big thank you to Countryside Homes for its continued support which helps us to carry on providing our free ‘Home from Home’ service for families.” The Trust, which is based in Essex, also provides a free ‘home from home’ property for families whose children are being treated at King’s College Hospital in London, Bristol Royal Infirmary and the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton. Countryside Homes is part of Vistry Group, which also includes Bovis Homes and Linden Homes. Vistry is building under its Countryside Homes brand at the St Michael’s Hurst and St James’ Park developments in Bishop’s Stortford. For more information, visit countrysidehomes.com. Further details about the Rhys Daniels Trust can be seen at www.rhysdanielstrust.org Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GMI Construction Group has launched its Construction Cares programmes, bringing all its community, employability and wellbeing projects under one banner. Led by GMI’s Responsible Business Team, Construction Cares will deliver and support a range of activities in the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Midlands where the construction company operates. It will also encompass its existing support for the Care Leaver Covenant and the 5% Club, which promotes ‘earn and learn’ opportunities. The Care Leaver Covenant, the second Government Covenant, is a national inclusion programme launched in 2018 that supports care leavers aged 16-25 to live independently by creating meaningful opportunities. GMI became a signatory of the Covenant in 2023, and, as part of Construction Cares, it is committed to advertising job roles to care leavers first and has established a guaranteed interview scheme. The company offers work experience, work trials, employability sessions, and one-to-one mentoring to help participants develop their skills and gain valuable experience in the sector. Recent programmes include DIY skills for care leavers, which have taken place, to date, in Yorkshire, North West and Midlands, with GMI supply chain partners leading sessions for students to gain valuable life skills for those transitioning into independent living and to give them a taster of career opportunities in construction. All attendees are provided with travel and lunch expenses and given a GMI home toolkit to take home with them upon completion of the three-day course. The sessions are already delivering positive outcomes with two participants gaining full-time construction apprenticeships and four have chosen to sign up to full-time constructions courses at college, which is getting them back into education. GMI also runs ‘Constructive Kickabouts’ sessions for care leavers, organising monthly football matches to provide a social and sporting setting and meet new people. This was launched in Manchester in 2023 and monthly sessions are now taking place in Birmingham. The 5% Club is a UK employer-led charity, which inspires and educates businesses and organisations to take positive action for increased, inclusive, and accessible workplace training for all. GMI currently holds Gold accredited membership of the club in recognition of the significant contribution it has made to the continued development of its employees through ‘earn and learn’ schemes. Community outreach forms a key element of Construction Cares with GMI regularly supporting causes and organisations local to its schemes. This has included the construction of an extension to a SEND school, a kitchen in a community centre and woodland play and learning area at primary school. Through ‘Constructing Communities’, GMI also supports the Daniel Baird Foundation charity, by installing bleed kits at its city centre sites, in locations such as Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, York and Bristol. The kits improve the survival chances of those who might have been stabbed or suffered traumatic injuries close to the sites. Claire Preston, Head of Responsible Business at GMI, said: “We believe in helping shape more than the built environment in the regions we operate, but having a positive impact on those communities. Construction Cares is an amalgamation of a variety of initiatives we have been running, bringing them under one banner that will allow us to give a greater focus to our CSR activities. “We have built strong partnerships with local authorities, charities, education establishments and organisations, like the Care Leavers Covenant, which is helping to create opportunities for people from all backgrounds. Through Construction Cares we will be making a positive difference to individuals and communities, supported by our dedicated team and supply chain partners.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
