Community conscience – and no monkeying around

Inhabitants at the Welsh Mountain Zoo have found themselves the object of donations thanks to a national supermarket chain.

And It seems everyone is getting ‘in on the act’ and helping out their communities of late.

Proving there are many different, inventive and inspiring ways in which you can support your local community.

The Business Supporting Communities (B2C) Project, funded by the Big Lottery and delivered by North Wales County Voluntary Councils, are working to help bring businesses and communities together.

B2C say they are very impressed with the amount of support currently being shown in North Wales.

For the past three years Menai Bridge’s Waitrose store has been donating all its unsold bananas to the monkeys at the Colwyn Bay based Welsh Mountain Zoo.

“We are extremely grateful for the food produce donated by the Waitrose store,” said Jennifer McDonald, the Zoo’s Marketing Officer.

“The kindly donated produce makes a significant contribution to the upkeep of the wonderful animals in our care, many of which are part of co-ordinated conservation breeding programmes.

“We are very appreciative to Waitrose for this practical support for our charitable objectives.”

A number of businesses have also been sharing their professional expertise and services; including Graphic designers – Glanfor Design who have been busy creating promotional materials for the Llandudno Youth Music Theatre.

Meanwhile Rhyl based based Inwood (Cymru) Ltd is lending a hand to the next generation of apprentice woodworkers.

The family business, also known as Gate Expectations, is running a free wood for schools scheme.

Offering all high schools in North Wales free timber off cuts to be used in design and technology lessons.

The idea – ‘free wood for North Wales high schools’ came as Jon Culshaw, from Gate Expectations, was tidying out his workshop.

“We have so many timber off cuts, which we keep for future use, but we aren’t using them quick enough,” said John, who remembers scarce materials and re-using wood for each project during his college days.

“There are budget shortages at schools; money is being spent on English and maths but not towards things like the supply of timber.

“The off cuts are completely free; all we ask is that they are picked up from our workshop.”

Since launching the free wood scheme on his website www.woodworkersuk.co.uk, Jon has been inundated with requests from schools, not just from North Wales but across the UK.

A number of businesses have also been sharing their professional expertise and services; including Graphic designers – Glanfor Design who have been busy creating promotional materials for the Llandudno Youth Music Theatre.

Lucy Kew, project officer at B2C, said she was delighted that so many businesses are supporting their own communities.

“We have seen so many exciting partnerships develop between businesses and community groups, which the above examples highlight,” said Lucy.

“It’s great to see businesses and communities share the same values and work together to solve real problems.

“We have now worked with a multitude of businesses and it’s fantastic to see so many come forward that genuinely want to offer support.

“If you would like support in making use of any spare resources your business can offer, any free time you might be able to gift or expertise that you could share with a good cause please contact us.

“B2C we are also are keen to celebrate and share all the excellent work that businesses are already doing for their communities, so please do get in touch with your good news stories” Lucy added.

For more details visit www.b2cwales.co.uk or contact Lucy Kew:

lucykew@b2cwales.co.uk / 01492 523847