1. Biz Network July August 2021 1-36.qxp_Chamberlink 30/06/2021 11:36 Page 18
MEMBER NEWS
Dimensions funds 30,000 breakfasts Castle Donington-based Dimensions has supported the Greggs Foundation Breakfast Club by funding 30,000 breakfasts at Roe Farm Primary School in Chaddesden, Derby. The corporate clothing provider has been working with the national bakery’s charity since July 2014, supplying its workforce with branded uniform and then becoming a supporter of the breakfast club programme in 2016. With commitment to a further two years of funding, Dimensions will have donated 30,000 breakfasts to the children who live in food insecure households at the school. Lynne Hindmarch, Greggs Foundation Breakfast Club manager, said: “Food insecurity is a major issue in the UK and it is shocking to think that not every child in the country has access to breakfast. “One in three children live in poverty in the UK, with an estimated 2.5 million living in food insecure households. Our support has never been more needed due to Covid-19 and the challenges this brings.” To date, the Greggs Foundation has supported 600 school breakfast clubs nationally, over 39,000 pupils each school day and 7.1 million breakfasts a year. Lynne added: “Our partners are critical to the success of this programme – each business will bring their own particular skills to the scheme and by coming together we share and learn from each other.”
Manufacturing a moment of rest for hospital workers Key workers at eight Midlands hospitals hoping for a welldeserved rest after their efforts during the pandemic can take a seat on a bench created by a Derby-based manufacturer. Eggleston Steel stepped up to the plate to make the outdoor furniture and donate them to local hospitals, including in Loughborough and Chesterfield, after responding to a Facebook campaign by Maria White. The Derby resident was seeking to raise £1,200 from the community to provide an extra bench seat for the staff at Derby Royal Hospital. Little did she then know her campaign soon became a regional wide phenomenon as her plea came to the attention of Richard Hewitt, managing director of 212year-old family firm Eggleston Steel.
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Within days, he asked operations director John Ready to design and lead on the manufacture of a unique key workers’ bench with the help of several local businesses, including Ripley firm The
Gatemaker and Little Eaton-based Little Eaton Smithy – all for free. Richard said: “It was a privilege to provide a lasting monument to the hospitals. I hope it allows patients and staff alike to rest and reflect.”
Holidays resume for disadvantaged children A Leicester charity is taking disadvantaged children on adventure holidays again this summer after Covid-19 restrictions were relaxed. And for the first time, Leicester Children’s Holidays, based in Highcross, has organised a match-funding scheme where companies and schools pay towards the trips, with the charity funding the rest. Schools across Leicestershire are paying half the holiday costs for seven children so far this year, with the charity paying the rest. Leicester Children’s Holidays manager Nicky Kandola said: “We have for a long time wanted to give companies and schools a chance to match-fund holidays with the charity making up the rest. It means we as a charity can pay more towards the holidays. “We are on the look-out for companies to help us with donations or match-funding from as little as £100 to give a vulnerable child a much-needed holiday.” To offer support, contact Nicky at nicky@leicesterchildrensholidays.co.uk
New chief to steer charity Irshad Baqui (pictured) has been appointed as chief executive at Children First Derby – and will steer the charity’s drive to strengthen and further develop its support for vulnerable children and families. Children First Derby provides three bespoke services – a family support service, mentoring service for youngsters aged between 10 and 18, and a supervised contact service for looked after children in the city. With more than 15 years of charity management experience,
The team at Eggleston Steel on the key workers' benches it manufactured for hospitals in response to a social media campaign
Irshad’s most recent role was chief executive of the Muath Trust. He said: “With my previous experience in charity management and growth, I’m looking forward to developing the charity further.”
THE EAST MIDLANDS: WHERE GOOD BUSINESS MAKES GOOD SENSE The Chamber has launched the EMComingTogether campaign to raise awareness about the opportunities available for businesses to engage with their communities in a strategic way to foster a holistic relationship between commerce and community. Because when our communities thrive, our business does too. Community engagement can take on many personas; from corporate social responsibility (CSR) to, more recently, environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG). We want to go back to basics, where supporting the community you operate in just makes good business sense. For more information, visit www.emc-dnl.co.uk/helping-youinfluence/emcomingtogether-campaign
