This year, charity CRASH is celebrating 25 years of working with the construction industry. To commemorate the occasion, British Gypsum took part in CRASH 25 – 25 days dedicated to fundraising for this worthy cause. All six of the manufacturer’s sites joined in the fundraising efforts, raising £8,572 to help CRASH fund a further 25 construction projects that support homelessness charities and hospices.
Founded in 1996, CRASH brings together industry partners to donate time, funding and resources to make life better for vulnerable people – from transforming unused buildings into rooms for homelessness charities, to turning hospices into comfortable spaces where families can spend valuable time together.
As a founding patron of CRASH, British Gypsum has supported the charity to make meaningful change. For more than two decades, the organisation has donated its expert knowledge and materials, as well as time and volunteers, to CRASH’s many projects.
British Gypsum encouraged all of its employees to contribute to CRASH 25 by dedicating 25 days in September to fundraising, in any form they chose. One fundraising campaign included the marketing team’s five-day, 96-mile trek along Scotland’s West Highland Way. The team traversed difficult terrain including steep mountains, countryside parks, open moorland and loch-shores, raising £4,690 in total.
In addition to the West Highland Way walk, fundraising activities included bake sales, raffles, 107-mile bike rides and sponsored walks. In total, British Gypsum’s Barrow upon Soar, East Leake, Fauld, Kirkby Thore, Robertsbridge and Sherburn in Elmet sites raised £3,882 for the cause.
Stacey Temprell, Marketing Director at British Gypsum, said: “As a founding patron of CRASH, we’re proud to have been there every step of the way and to have supported this wonderful charity in making a difference to the lives of vulnerable people.
“At British Gypsum, it is a priority of ours to support communities and to help build places and spaces where people can flourish. We hope to continue our work with CRASH for another 25 rewarding years.”
Examples of other recent CRASH projects British Gypsum has supported include a refurbishment project with the Kairos Community Trust. British Gypsum provided materials free of charge towards the refurbishment of a move-on house that supports homeless men and women with drug and alcohol problems, helping to turn “dingy, dark accommodation” into “a light-filled, well-equipped home” for vulnerable people.
Another example is their recent work with EMMAUS Lambeth. British Gypsum donated materials towards the refurbishment of the homelessness charity’s new residential site, supporting an improved layout that includes three additional bedrooms and a refurbished kitchen and bathrooms.
For more information on British Gypsum’s Communities Project and their charity work, visit: british-gypsum.com/local-communities.