CRASH recognised by the Prime Minister with Big Society Award
28 May 2014 11:47 AM
CRASH, a homelessness
charity that works with the construction and property industry, wins the Prime
Minister’s Big Society award.
Since 1996 CRASH has
developed bespoke partnerships across the construction and property industry to
build and refurbish emergency night shelters, hostels and day centres,
empowering companies to provide more than money to charities on the frontline
of the fight against homelessness.
CRASH partners EC Harris and BAM
Construction ltd recently rebuilt accommodation and community rooms for the
Pilsdon Community in Dorset. They were joined by fellow partners AkzoNobel
Dulux Trade, British Gypsum, Knauf Insulation, Areen Design and Hanson. The
combined value of their expertise and materials saved the homelessness charity
£152,090. The result is a well-designed, high quality building that will
last for years and offer shelter and help to vulnerable
people.
Last year, CRASH supported 68
homelessness projects, leveraging £188,974 of pro-bono professional
expertise, £190,391 of donated and discounted materials and cash grants
totalling £155,586 to help improve buildings and
services.
Prime Minister David Cameron
said:
The innovative approach CRASH
takes harnesses the world-class skills and products of our construction
industry to tackle the issue of homelessness.
This Big Society Award
recognises the remarkable achievements of everyone involved.
CRASH Chief Executive Francesca
Roberts said:
We are thrilled and proud that
the work of CRASH has been recognised by the Prime Minister. CRASH is the big
society in action; the charity lies at the heart of the construction and
property industry and is the conduit by which the companies and their employees
can practically put something back to help communities across the
UK.
CRASH employs only 5 full time
staff and can deliver so much help because we tap into the great resources of
the companies that support the charity. This award honours the people and the
companies who do so much to share their expertise, time and skill to help
homeless people. CRASH is all about sharing what you are naturally good at and
sharing of ourselves is what charity is all about.
CRASH patrons
The patron companies of CRASH
pioneer the work that needs to be done, collaborating to provide the maximum
impact possible to improve the buildings homeless people need. The patron
companies all play their part working with CRASH to provide expertise,
materials and donations:
- A-Plant
- ACO
Technologies
- AECOM
- CDI
AndersElite
- Areen Design
- Argent LLP
- Balfour Beatty
- BAM Construct
UK
- Bauder
- British Gypsum
- Buildbase
- Carillion
- City &
Guilds
- AkzoNobel Dulux
Trade
- EC Harris LLP
- Galliford Try
- Hanson
- Hilti (GB) Ltd
- Imtech
- Knauf
- KOREC
- Land
Securities
- Lend Lease
- Network Rail
- RedSky IT
- Ryder
Architecture
- Siniat
- Sto Ltd
- Taylor Wimpey