Places
“Our aim is to positively impact every community that we are part of, so we actively seek out opportunities to use our skills, knowledge and resources to support local causes. That support can look different for each of our partners, from financial donations to volunteering activities as well as our services delivered free of charge. This is because our partnerships are built on providing the individual assistance which is most valuable for each so that we ultimately provide the biggest impact.”
– Gratte Brothers Group CSR Committee
Our Community Partnerships
Food Bank Aid
Food Bank Aid distributes goods to local food banks across North London and Hertfordshire. In December 2023, Gratte Brothers came to the rescue when their heating system failed, Gratte Brothers | Building Services & Engineering stepped in to provide the free installation of new equipment which ensured the team of volunteers were kept toasty warm. We are pleased to report that everyone at the Food Bank Aid hub is thrilled with the work. Ian Kamiel, Director at Food Bank Aid was “totally blown away” by our generosity and “the speed in which the work was done”.
We’ve since extended further support to Food Bank Aid by providing a van and driver to help with deliveries on a weekly basis, and a team of volunteers to help on a quarterly basis.
Shelter From the Storm
Shelter From the Storm is a King’s Cross based free homeless shelter, open all year round.
In July 2024, we donated our time and expertise for free to update air conditioning filters across their site, improving the delivery of clean air for their staff and guests. We have also partnered with the charity to provide hygiene products on a monthly basis to keep their guests feeling comfortable, and their wellbeing accommodated.
Our partnership doesn’t stop there, either! We have an upcoming commitment to help with their ventilation systems, too – more information coming soon.
Friends of SADA
We partner with domestic abuse charity, Friends of SADA (Survivors Against Domestic Abuse). This Stevenage-based charity supports families fleeing domestic abuse from across the UK. The charity offers a safe space for survivors of abuse and violence to rebuild their lives. Gratte Brothers | Foodservice Solutions is based in Stevenage. As part of our ‘Places’ commitment, we are active within the community, giving back wherever we can.
Click ‘read more’ to see how we help them…
- Each month, we donate a £100 supermarket voucher to fill the fridge at their hub. This is not only where their head office is based, but is also their main safe space – accommodating up to four families at a time. Whilst here, the families receive the highest level of support, before transitioning into one of their other safe spaces or residents who are ready to start living independently again while still receiving a certain level of support.
- We supplied 15 wireless video doorbells for 15 of their safe spaces. This now means that all of their safe spaces are covered by video surveillance. As new safe spaces are established, we will continue to provide this equipment to ensure all spaces have maximum protection.
- We donate surplus ‘light equipment’ such as cutlery, plates, glasses etc. for their safe spaces. This ensures that they have a fully stocked inventory. We will continue to hold a small level of stock in our warehouse for their future needs.
- Friends of SADA was one of our beneficiaries of the Christmas raffle 2024.
Single Homeless Project
-
- How to get CSCS cards.
- What kind of jobs a CSCS card can help you get.
- Alternatives to manual labour in the sector.
- Different licenses and general pay ranges.
- Tips, guidance and general skills needed.
We’ve also volunteered our time to decorate living spaces, gardening projects, ad hoc projects related to the skillsets we have within Gratte Brothers, and in addition, the proceeds of our 2024 Christmas raffle will be donated to the Single Homeless Project.
Our People, Supporting Our Places
Our people play a huge part of our community involvement. While we regularly organise opportunities for volunteering as a Group, we are proud to be utterly in the shadow of our own people who engage with a wide variety of charitable ventures themselves. Sometimes they take these on as individuals, and sometimes they even team up with colleagues, all in the name of raising money and awareness for causes close to their hearts.
From delivering first aid supplies to the Ukranian border, to taking on the Longest Golf Day Challenge, Braving the Shave, climbing Kilimanjaro, walking, running and cycling for charity, our people show their authentic commitment to inspiring change all year round.
Supporting Worthy Causes
Hey Girls
We partner with social enterprise, Hey Girls to offer free period products in all of our offices and on all of our sites where we’re operating as the Principal Contractor. As a responsible business, we think it’s important to talk about the important topics that may often be considered ‘taboo’ in order to bring about change and make a positive impact. These free period products are available in both male and female toilets, with ‘Pads4Dads’ kits available in male toilets. These kits are designed to help fathers have those conversations, broaden their understanding of the topic, and feel confident in supporting their daughters.
Macmillan
Every year, we host Macmillan Coffee Mornings at our sites and offices around the country, in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.
This annual event is much awaited at Gratte Brothers and provides all of us with the opportunity to socialise with colleagues over coffee and some sweet treats. The offer of Star Baker prizes encouraged the inner baker in many of our staff as did the circulation of a Coffee Morning-inspired Quiz. As a result of our efforts, we were able to donate over £1,500 to Macmillan, which means we’ve now donated over £11,000 in the last 10+ years to this fantastic organisation.
The Employers' Domestic Abuse Covenant
We have recently signed the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant pledge, designed to signal that we are an inclusive and supportive employer for those affected by domestic abuse.
Through this commitment, we pledge to:
- Encourage meaningful conversations around domestic abuse (DA) to break taboos and raise awareness.
- Maintain inclusive work environments for victims & survivors of DA.
- Identify opportunities for recruitment and training for victims and survivors to enter or re-enter the workplace.
We pride ourselves on our workplace already being inclusive, and we’re no strangers to breaking taboos with our Reach Out mental health initiative, and Hey Girls partnership. So, we look forward to embracing the EDAC pledge, and making Gratte Brothers an even better place to work.
