A collaboration between an Anglesey company and a local bowling club has brought big benefits to both thanks to a new Big Lottery funded project that brings businesses and community groups together.
When Peibio Bowling Club in Holyhead desperately needed work doing to their clubhouse, they turned to Business Supporting Communities (B2C) and a local family business for help.
Peninsula Home Improvements has an established reputation for supporting projects and organisations in the community so, when the meeting of the two parties was facilitated by B2C, the Gaerwen-based company were happy to help.
Company directors – Ken Grayson and Lorraine Hopkins – were already aware of the benefits of supporting local groups. And as a direct result of a few days volunteer work at the clubhouse, they have already had work from a club member as well as recognition and positive publicity in their home region.
Peninsula is a forward thinking company when it comes to establishing links with third sector groups in their community. Lorraine, whose career background is in building community partnerships, explained: “My partner Ken, has always had an interest in charitable work on a personal level and through the business.
“In the past four or five years since I came on board as director and changed how we do charitable giving. It’s now a core part of our business through sponsorship and real partnerships, not just donations.
“Our staff development and marketing strategies are now driven by a strong community focus. Everything we are doing, we are trying to find ways to work with our community. It’s win-win all round, for the business, for the staff, and for the community.
“In the case of Peibio bowlers, we are an Anglesey firm and a family firm so, when we were approached by them, because they are a local organisation we felt that supporting them could strengthen our local profile.
“They acknowledged the business with a plaque, so there’s the obvious marketing side but it’s much more really. We want to be seen to be – which we definitely are – caring about the community on our doorstep. We respond to those who come to us but we’re also pro-active in looking for ways we can help.
“With Peibio bowlers it started as a ‘feel-good’ relationship, then the chairman asked us to do some paid work for him so, bottom line, it brought us a customer. It’s more than goodwill for us now, it’s something that drives the business.”
What began as a purely charitable project provided Peninsula with some additional paid work as well as enhancing the company’s standing in the local community. And, for the bowling club, which now hopes to develop school clubs and youth outreach programmes, it provided some much needed renovations.
Sandra Lingwood, treasurer at the club, said: “Before the work was done, the windows and doors at the club were unsafe and had to be brought up to standard. Now they are safe and the club is secure. It has given us a firm base to build for the future.
“It (bowling) is a sport in decline so we have to work to encourage new players. We’ve already seen an increase in membership since the work was done and we ran a summer coaching school with the local ‘Splash’ youth club.
“The senior members coached the youngsters, everyone had a lot of fun and we found some very good young bowlers. We’re hoping to work with a local school to set up an evening programme and encourage children to come along and have a go.”
Emily Williamson, is project officer for B2C, which works with business and community groups across North Wales. Emily said: “This project was a perfect illustration of how a business taking time to help in their community can bring so many benefits.
“Peninsula are particularly forward thinking when it comes to volunteering time and resources for projects like this, but, for those companies who’ve not done anything like this before, we are able to provide help and advice on how to go about it. They have little to lose and a great deal to gain.
“Businesses that interact closely with their communities build stronger social networks, are more in tune with consumer needs and are more attractive to prospective employees and customers.
“Other benefits include cost effective personal development opportunities for employees, helping to increase staff retention levels as well as employee productivity.”
For more information on how your business can support your community visit www.b2cwales.co.uk.
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