National Highways brings added value to Gloucestershire charities and communities
National Highways’ teams have been helping local communities with five new projects in Gloucestershire.
Through its Social Value funding stream, the company behind the A417 Missing Link is investing in several community projects in the area, including helping children with terminal illnesses, youth clubs, providing benches for a local park and providing trees and shrubs for a local cooperative.
Steve Foxley, A417 Missing Link Project Director, said: “Our Social Value initiative is an excellent way to enhance our projects and support the communities near our road network.
Although our primary goal is to provide a high-quality, safe road network, we are deeply committed to positively impacting local areas and communities. We are delighted to be able to benefit several communities adjacent to our project.”
One of the good causes to benefit was the James Hopkins Trust (JHT), a charity funded primarily from fundraising & donations, that provides free nursing respite care for life-limited and life-threatened young children.
For JHT to provide its care and create a suitable environment for respite, specialist and operational equipment is required in the centre.
National Highways provided JHT with £10k to fund vital pieces of equipment to enhance the care the Trust can provide, alongside providing operational equipment which ensures the JHT can function effectively on a day-to-day basis.
The specialist care provided allows the children to be comfortable, entertained and stimulated while at Kites Corner and provides vital chances for families to create lasting memories and receive support in caring for their child. It is important to highlight that the free care the JHT is just as important for the families as it is for the children who attend Kites Corner.
Sarah Nash, Charity Manager for the James Hopkins Trust, said: “The team at JHT are so very grateful to everyone at National Highways for providing us with this fantastic funding opportunity.
“As you can imagine, any spending is very closely monitored and with the majority of our funds being spent on wages and the day-to-day running of the Trust, this leaves very little to spend on updating necessary equipment and provisions.
“The £10,000 which was very generously granted to us, allowed us to purchase some much-needed items to maintain the safe upkeep of the building and also some wonderful new play items including the amazing new play kitchen which has already received a lot of love from the children who have been cooking up a storm.”
Caption: Children with some of the new equipment at JHT
National Highways’ Social Value funding has also helped the Brockworth Youth Club, a charity youth club based in Brockworth, run by Brockworth Link.
They support young people across Brockworth as well as Witcombe, Birdlip and Shurdington.
These villages are near the A417 Missing Link scheme, so all face impacts from National Highways’ construction work.
Charlotte Mills, Brockworth Youth Club Manager, said: “The A417 grant has had a huge impact on the young people of Brockworth and those who use services at the community centre and library.
“The Bike stand has meant that people in Brockworth have been able to fix and maintain their bikes, so it has enabled accessible and sustainable transport.
The young people have really enjoyed using the sports and kitchen equipment, from football matches to making sorbets. Their confidence has really grown in the areas of art and entertainment.
“The grant has allowed the young people to have the usage of a wonderful stage, lighting and sound system. Friendships have formed when carrying out workshops such as ready steady cook and dance, this has helped with social impact in the area.”
Caption: Young people at Brockworth Youth Club enjoying some of the classes on offer thanks to National Highways
Similarly, National Highways has helped Birdlip Garden Cooperative with £10,000 of support to secure new hand tool, small mechanical equipment, PPE and workwear.
Currently, many areas in Birdlip are swamped with the growth of invasive species such as bramble which needs controlling. In summer, this makes the footpaths impassable, making them a hazard for safety, so there is a need for these spaces to be managed.
The BGC will also improve biodiversity in the local area by using wildflowers, shrubs and trees that are native to the area.
Elaine Lavington, from Birdlip Garden Cooperative, said: “These much-needed tools will allow our volunteers to clear and maintain the overgrown and littered verges for years to come. Although still in the early days of our project, residents and visitors have already commented on the remarkable improvement to the area.
“In the coming months, we anticipate planting native hedgerows and wildflowers to further improve the area and encourage more wildlife.”
Caption: The team at Birdlip Gardening Cooperative taking part in a morning of clearance and maintenance
Other support via the Social Value Fund has seen £10,000 for Brockworth Parish Council for six new benches across the area and £5,000 for the Brockworth Community Library, which will help purchase 300 new books and a colour printer.
Caption: A new bench installed in Brockworth thanks to National Highways funding
Caption: Users of Brockworth Community Library
National Highways launched its first Social Value Plan in October 2022, with the aim of supporting the wellbeing of communities living near its roads. To find out more details about National Highways’ Social Value fund click here.
Find out more about the A417 Missing Link here.
Notes to Editors
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