Image by Sefton council
VINCI Building has been supporting Y Kids, an organistion that supports young people and their families living in Bootle and Merseyside, to create a safe, nurturing environment for those who may feel isolated or unsupported.
As part of VINCI Building’s social value initiate, the teams wanted to make a change to the lives of young people and partnered with Kingsley & Co, a literacy led project run by a charity aiming to inspire children to exceed expectations and explore their imaginations through becoming engaged in literacy.
Kingsley & Co led a literary festival with a Fairytale, Myth and Legend theme and VINCI Building supported them. The team used their Stand Out Make A Difference (SOMAD) day(s) during half term, helping to set up the literacy fair. They also sponsored two local schools to enable them to receive a book package and experience day at Kingsley & Co. The initiative was created to improve literacy skills for children within Bootle and inspire a love of reading for pleasure.
Y-Kids have also recently faced challenges during the relocation of its literacy project; a community café and bookshop. As their new unit wasn’t suitable and they were unable to continue offering their services, three of VINCI Building’s staff also used their SOMAD day(s) to take part in the move, helping to transport over 15,000 books to the new premises. The team organised a “human chain” through the shopping centre, complete with volunteers dressed as fairytale characters like Rapunzel and Captain Hook!
Relocating sooner also meant Y-kids couldn’t afford their new café / kitchen area. With the help of our supply chain partners, HE Simm, advising, designing and installing the new mechanical and electrical services for the new kitchen space, the team were able to leave them with a brand-new modern kitchen area. MJS Joinery providing their skilled joiners, and Sovini kindly donated the kitchen and worktops.
In addition, HE Simm also provided and installed the kitchen sink, as well as rewiring and replacing all the basement lighting, so the room was safe and useable.
Back in May 2024, Hannah Bailey, Social Value Manager also took part in the judging of the submissions for Y Kids Believe Awards. The session was held at the Jacob’s Factory in Aintree with the Award celebration in June 2024, celebrating young heroes who have done extraordinary things in their community.
Hannah presented an award to an exceptional young man Alfie Fitzsimmons– the Josephine Butler award for ‘making life better for other people’. Alfie devastatingly lost his father to suicide in 2017, and after feeling that there was a lack of support for him at the time, decided to help other young people affected in the same way by setting up Alfie’s Squad, supporting children bereaved by suicide helping to create a safe space to heal and connect with peers who share similar experiences.
Supply chain partners A&B Engineering recently attended the Salt & Tar community event which included a play about the history of Liverpool, from its early beginnings up to the present day and other activities relating to local history. Support was given to the capture of community voice questionnaires and for young people, an opportunity to create a new Bootle Crest. There was a community play throughout the day which showcased the development of Bootle and the city over the last 100 years.
Well done to all our teams and supply chain partners for making a huge difference to Y-Kids and for using their time and expertise in helping those less fortunate than others.
“A massive thank you to VINCI Building for all your support to us at Y Kids and Kingsley & Co. With your continued support, for the likes of the Believe awards and more recently at our children’s literacy event (with your team of helpers), it is fantastic to see how much you care about the local community and give your time and resources to support us and the work we do for the Bootle community.
“Without help from organisations like yourselves we wouldn’t be able to provide the support to children who need it most. Thank you all, it is massively appreciated.”
Claire Morgans Y Kids
