The month of February saw our National participating Framework partners focus on foodbanks for the next of Procure Partnerships twelve ‘key monthly themes’ collaborative working group outcomes for non-project specific social value.
This month’s theme saw contractors working collaboratively with community groups to donate resources and volunteer their time to help foodbanks. There is growing demand for foodbanks as the cost of living crisis continues to place a financial strain on people and communities turn to this much needed lifeline of support.
Northwest (Greater Manchester): City Build, Cheetham Hill Construction, Conlon, F Parkinson, Eric Wright
City Build
Andrew Field, Business Manager at City Build met with Major Michael West who runs the Swinton Salvation Army, to present him with a financial donation. The £250 fund will contribute towards food vouchers, alongside the non-perishable provisions the Salvation Army provide as part of their Trussell Trust Foodbank. The vouchers ensure people can access fresh fruit and vegetables. The Swinton Salvation Army provide a ‘drop in’ coffee morning every Thursday and Friday where the community can use the foodbank in a welcoming and supportive environment. Volunteers are on hand to spend time with people to discuss housing, family or financial challenges, and offer guidance and advice, such as how to feed a family on a budget.
Cheetham Hill Construction
Claire Chamberlain made a financial donation to Porch Boxes on behalf of Cheetham Hill Construction (CHC). A registered charity based in Bury, Greater Manchester, close to the CHC Head Office and Bury Food Bank, Porch Boxes provide crisis packs of food and toiletries to local agencies to distribute to local people in urgent need. Supplying on average 450 packs each month, and struggling for donations at this difficult time of year when energy bills and the cost of living is high, the £250 fund will allow them to support the growing demand of people and families needing emergency food packages.
Conlon Construction
Led by Neil Conlon and organised by the site team with support from their supply chain and the MMU Project, Conlon Construction have been working with Manchester Metropolitan University and the project team supporting the Manchester Central Foodbank Lent Campaign and Manchester Warm Spaces. With one in five people living below the poverty line, Manchester Central Foodbank is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger.
F Parkinson Ltd & Eric Wright Group
On Wednesday 15th February, organised by Natalie Shepherd, three staff members from the F Parkinson Manchester office completed a volunteering day at Mustard Tree in Manchester. Steve Williamson, Tim Searle and Jack Cook offered hands-on support by helping to prepare 110 food bags and assisting with furniture donations.
Mustard Tree operate across Greater Manchester combating and preventing poverty, inequality and homelessness by providing food, clothing, furniture, and training for local individuals in need.
Scott Latta from Eric Wright Group has organised a donation to support the valuable efforts of the Mustard Tree charity
Midlands: GRAHAM Group and Gelder Group
GRAHAM Group
On Monday 20th March, Megan from GRAHAM Group will be volunteering at Cannock & District Food Bank. She will assist staff members and volunteers with essential day-to-day operations, make deliveries, sort and pack stock, and help individuals using the foodbank’s services. Founded by local churches and community groups, the project brings organisations together to prevent hunger in the local area. Part of the nationwide network of foodbanks supported by The Trussell Trust, they provide nutritionally balanced emergency food aid to people in crisis. Since opening in December 2012, they have provided 238,824.27 kg of food to 21,775 members of the public, equating to 195,975 meals.
Gelder Group
As part of an on-going corporate social responsibility initiative, Gelder Group run food drives several times a year, collecting and distributing food supplies to people in need. In addition to these activities, Dawn organised a team of volunteers from Gelder Group, as well as providing training, to enter a charity fundraiser Badminton competition. Arranged by Nicholsons Accountants, the event took place on 8th March to raise money for foodbanks in Lincoln and Market Rasen.
Yorkshire: Esh, Graham, Galliford Try
The Leeds based Collaborative Working Group comprising of teams from Esh, Graham and Galliford Try, came together in a fantastic joint effort to collect donations of toiletries, books, and warm clothing for local homeless charity – St Georges Crypt.
Providing a critical service in Leeds to vulnerable members of the community, the charity provides care, compassion and hope to the homeless 365 days a year. On 23rd February, Louise Seddon, Rebecca Caunce, and Megan Roberts all volunteered their time to help David Pilling, Head Chef at St Georges Crypt, prepare for the community lunch service. A completely free of charge provision available to members of the public in need of a hot meal.
Commenting on their experience the volunteers said: “We met some amazing people who are all working towards a new life with the help of the Crypts’ offering of housing, financial support, rehabilitation and skills.” St Georges Crypt transforms the lives of thousands of people in the local area by providing a safe place to sleep, nutritious meals, shower facilities and support.”
Testimonial, Sarah Smith, Trust Fundraiser at St Georges Crypt: “Thank you so much for coming along and joining in with our lunch service and independent cooking class. Also, please thank your employees for all their donations – they were all of great quality and thank you for listening to what we actually needed.”
Social Value Add
A collective £702.02 Social Value Add has been generated as a result of February activities that are non-project specific from sub-groups of Contractors across our national framework.
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Faye Dolan, an esteemed professional and Framework Director at Procure Partnerships, boasts a rich and diverse career spanning seven years in the construction industry. Faye’s journey within Procure Partnerships began in 2018 as a Key Account Manager, initially overseeing the North West region and later extending her purview to the entire North.
