THERE were smiles all round when the NEC joined forces with a voluntary group and gave a helping hand to a Chelmsley Wood play area.
The live events business has teamed up with Warwickshire and Solihull Community and Voluntary Action (CAVA) in a bid to strengthen its commitment to the community.
As part of its social impact programme and efforts to reduce event waste, NEC Group contract support manager, Steve Cartmell, reached out to CAVA in the hope they could find willing recipients for surplus event materials.
The group has donated 200 aprons for cookery and craft experiences at Meriden Adventure Playground Association, which provides activities, companionship and support for families and children in the community and surrounding areas.
Jo Battista, fundraising officer from MAPA, said: “The NEC Group’s donation of 200 aprons will really enhance the cookery and craft experiences we provide for the children, and I’d like to thank Steve, the Group and CAVA for their ongoing support for our cause.”
CAVA provides vital support to volunteers, groups, organisations, enterprises and charities by offering a range of services for community groups to help them achieve their goals – from sourcing and matching volunteers, funding and income generation, to advice and training with the help of CAVA’s local network of contacts.
Since they began working together in the summer, the partnership has supported numerous local charities including the refurbishment of a community café, and donatingd pencils to local schools and chairs to a community centre.
The NEC Group and CAVA say they will continue to work together to share unused items from across the Group’s live event venues.
Donna Norford, volunteering coordinator from CAVA, concluded: “We are delighted to work with the NEC Group.
“Their sustainable community first approach means that we were able to support and connect them with valued charities and community groups within Solihull and Warwickshire.
“We were able to support the connection with over 10 charities, who all gratefully received furniture and other resources. This enabled those organisations to continue with or to add to their much needed and valued community services.”
Donations also went to community cafes, sewing clubs, children’s play schemes, warm hubs, and adult day care.
