AkzoNobel has donated a total of £50,000 to 49 deserving community projects nationwide which were nominated by colleagues.
Through its True Colours Community Fund powered by #AkzoNobelCares, it has now allocated grants of £1,000 to support 48 organisations, including 17 children’s wellbeing groups, four medical organisations, five adult crisis centres and three homeless shelters.
A final donation of £2,000 went to food bank Moray Food Plus in Scotland after following a break-in in December which saw thieves make off with all its food and money just before Christmas.
Launched in September, the True Colours Community Fund was established to provide a further helping hand for the charities, community groups and youth organisations that AkzoNobel colleagues already dedicate their free time to helping out.
It is part of the business’s global #AkzoNobelCares programme, and allows colleagues to apply for funds for projects that will make a difference to the lives of people who need it most, with grants from between £100 to £1,000.
Simon Burke, Project Lead for the True Colours Community Fund at AkzoNobel said: “We’re incredibly proud of the efforts our colleagues go to, to help charitable organisations in their community.
“These charities and community groups make a real difference to vulnerable people’s lives, especially during the coronavirus pandemic and in these challenging winter months.”
“We’re looking forward to seeing the response as our colleagues support even more groups in the coming months.”
Other organisations to have benefitted from the True Colours Community Fund include homeless initiative Project Parker in Walthamstow, London, which provided emergency accommodation for an average of 30 people per night during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It received a £1,000 True Colours Community Fund grant which is being used to help fit out and buy essential equipment for a new workshop where the homeless community can upcycle furniture and make a living for themselves.
While in Ireland, AkzoNobel Retail Sales Representative Kieran Culliane has been able to donate £1,000 to Kinvara Camogie Club based in Galway.
In an area where female participation in sport is relatively low, the funding will be used to increase provision for girls’ sport at the club, providing more opportunities for young girls in the area to participate and giving them an outlet to boost their self-confidence and mental wellbeing.
For more information on AkzoNobel visit: akzonobel.com/en/uk.
