£200,010 awarded to 30 local organisations fighting against social exclusion
£200,010 awarded to 30 local organisations fighting against social exclusion
VINCI UK Foundation awards local charities £200k to tackle social exclusion
VINCI businesses across the UK and Ireland will combine the skills of staff with financial assistance to collaborate with local charities in improving social integration and cohesion.
The VINCI UK Foundation has announced grants totalling £200,010 to support 30 local charities across the UK and Republic or Ireland, which focus on improving access to training, employment, housing and healthcare for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society.
The grants – ranging from £3,000 to £15,000 – will go towards purchasing or upgrading transport, equipment and facilities to help the charities in their efforts to alleviate social exclusion and strengthen communities.
VINCI employees, from apprentices to senior management, will also dedicate some of their time to providing practical support to these organisations and projects.
Among this year’s chosen charities are:
- A4W Innovation (Arts4Wellbeing)
Sponsored by VINCI Energies UK & RoI, Arts4Wellbeing provides arts and crafts sessions for people of all ages and abilities in Wales, allowing them to connect, express their creativity and increase their confidence and wellbeing. The £10,000 grant from the VINCI UK Foundation will enable the charity to buy a van, which will help with the set-up of pop-up studios in rural areas.
- Barnet Refugee Service (BRS)
Sponsored by VINCI Construction Grand Projets, the Barnet Refugee Service in north London works with individuals and agencies to increase the life chances of vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers and improve community cohesion. The £5,000 grant from the VINCI UK Foundation will provide the means for BRS to partition and fit out additional space in the building it currently rents.
- Blind in Business
Sponsored by Eurovia, Blind in Business offers training and employment services to blind and partially-sighted people, helping them to enter the world of work and achieve their career ambitions. The £5,353 grant from the VINCI UK Foundation will allow the charity to purchase specialist new IT equipment for its London-based Access Technology Suite.
https://www.blindinbusiness.org.uk/
- Handicapped Children Action Group
Sponsored by VINCI Construction, the Handicapped Children Action Group supplies specialist equipment to children with disabilities, learning difficulties or other special needs from all over the UK, who are unable to obtain the equipment from the NHS or afford to purchase it privately. The charity aims to use the £15,000 grant from the VINCI UK Foundation to help 20-25 young people gain in independence and mobility and join in the activities of others their age.
- RAW Workshop
Sponsored by Nuvia, RAW Workshop employs, trains and supports people from Oxfordshire communities who face prejudice and barriers to work. The charity will use the £15,000 grant from the VINCI UK Foundation to provide additional employment opportunities by setting up a professional grounds maintenance service, including lawn mowing, sweeping up leaves and simple landscaping.
- Rural Urban Synthesis Society (RUSS)
Sponsored by Bachy Soletanche, RUSS is a community land trust in south London, which aims to create sustainable neighbourhoods and affordable homes. The £6,000 grant from the VINCI UK Foundation will help volunteers build London’s first training facility for community self-builders on land set aside in Ladywell, Lewisham, for a new 33-home affordable self-build housing project.
- Telford Young Carers Service
Sponsored by Freyssinet, Telford Young Carers Service is a Shropshire-based charity that provides advice and support for young carers aged 5-18. The £9,699 grant from the VINCI UK Foundation will go towards its Access to Life project, which aims to provide some respite for young carers in the area, engage them in fun activities, help them discover new interests and make new friends.
Ruth Ottley, head coordinator of the VINCI UK Foundation says: “We selected these charities to receive grants for the phenomenal work they do to support communities throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. I’m thrilled that, beyond our financial help, colleagues from across VINCI will also give up some of their time to join these charities in their bid to end social exclusion. It’s amazing what we can achieve together.”
More details can be found at www.vinci-uk-foundation.co.uk.
ABOUT VINCI UK Foundation
The original VINCI Foundation was established in France in May 2002. Since then it has supported more than 2,500 charitable projects, each receiving an average grant of £10,000 and the support of up to four employees. The Foundation distributes more than £3.3 million globally to good causes every year.
The VINCI UK Foundation was launched in early 2016 with the specific goal of promoting social cohesion and fighting exclusion and isolation in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, by combining the skills of VINCI staff with financial assistance to be a long term partner for the community.
Businesses contributing to the VINCI UK Foundation are VINCI Energies UK & RoI, VINCI Construction UK, VINCI Construction Grands Projets, VINCI Concessions, Bachy Soletanche, Eurovia, Freyssinet and Nuvia.
For more information, contact:
Oliver Halls
SE10
London
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7923 5862
Email: oliver.halls@se10.com
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