Thanks to the generosity of the Stewart Milne Group and its employees, communities across Scotland and Africa have benefited from new communal green spaces, charitable donations and even new homes.
More than 20 organisations, charities and communities in which the Group operates have benefited from the outreach and volunteering campaigns led by the housebuilder and timbers systems manufacturer.
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Thousands of man-hours and over £210,000 in funds has been directed into projects ranging from play parks, new gardens and even the building of a new children’s dormitory in Kenya.
As the Group explores how it will channel its outreach work in the next few years, it has published a report to reflect on the great work that has already been achieved.
To mark its 40th anniversary, Stewart Milne Group launched the Regenerating Urban Back Yards (RUBY) campaign in 2015. Designed to improve community spaces in Scotland and the North-west of England, the RUBY scheme invested £21,000 and more than 338 man-hours in new play equipment in Castlemilk and Bridge of Allan and a new community garden in Cove, Aberdeen. Work carried out across the projects included landscaping, laying lock block, putting up screening and removing trees.
In the same year, a group of courageous colleagues completed a 738 mile bike ride – raising £60,000 in the process for charities such as The ARCHIE Foundation, Beatson Cancer Charity and The Christie Charity, which will allow them to continue the inspiring and fundamental work they do in their respective cities.
Comprising Stewart Milne Group employees from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester, the “Bike4Forty” team undertook the gruelling charity cycle and thanks to their tireless efforts, £20,000 was donated to the three charities.
In Kenya, 19 Stewart Milne Group employees worked under the harsh sun and heat to build accommodation for 20 children. Built for the Gathimba Edwards Foundation, the 16-bed dormitory and three-bedroom house was constructed in record-breaking time by the team of staff including roofers, plumbers, joiners, site managers, factory operatives and technical supervisors.
With the help of sub-contractors and suppliers, the team also sourced and shipped £4,000 worth of tools to donate to the Foundation for future construction works. Collectively the team involved also raised £10,760 for the Foundation to continue to help and support young, disadvantaged Kenyans as they transition from children into adults.
Other community work, undertaken by the group and highlighted in the report, includes:
- Building a purpose-built play centre in Peterborough with BBC Children in Need
- Organising a tennis fun day for 40 children from Befriend A Child
- Raising £2,000 for Maggie’s with a charity day
- Donating more than £95,000 to Beatson Cancer Charity (over four years)
- Sponsoring the Aberdeen Student Show for over 10 years and helping raise £200,000
- Supporting The Giving Tree appeal by placing Christmas trees in show homes for gift donations
Glenn Allison, chief executive of Stewart Milne Group, said: “We couldn’t be more proud of what we have managed to accomplish over the past couple of years. We’ve seen our colleagues from all areas of the business get involved in any way they can and we are in awe at how generous, kind-hearted and motivated they have been. It’s important that it’s not just about the money we raise. Our time and expertise can often be as valuable for these causes and I am thrilled that so many of our staff willingly gave up their time to support so many of these projects.
“As housebuilders we understand the value of community. We are committed to supporting and improving the communities with whom we engage and, as we look ahead to campaigns for the next few years, we can look back with pride at what we’ve achieved.
“Equally, as an employer with a strong team ethos we know how important it is to create development opportunities for our people inside and outside of work.”
Stewart Milne Group has a strong history of taking part in charitable projects, in 2014 the company worked with DIY SOS as part of BBC’s Children in Need to design and build a purpose-built play centre for Peterborough-based children’s charity Little Miracles. Little Miracles is a parent led support group and charity for families with children that have additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions. Stewart Milne Group designed the Spinney Play Centre, ensuring it was child friendly and fit for purpose, and worked with other volunteers to erect the building in one day.
