Charity Begins at Home and Takes to the Skies!

Caring steelworkers have donated £500 received for exceeding company Health & Safety targets to local charities.

Employees at Corus Service Centre on Grantham’s Spittlegate Industrial Estate chose to split the money between the town’s GIFTS Hospice and the local branch of County Air Ambulance in Lincoln – because both charities have enhanced the lives of family members, friends and colleagues.

General manager Julian Martin explains: “We’re delighted that measures we have taken to maximise the health and safety performance of the site and protect employees have also resulted in being able to contribute in a small way to help members of the local community.

“GIFTS plays a very important role in the local community and the general consensus was that the sterling work of the County Air Ambulance also deserves every penny it can get too.”

Corus Grantham was awarded the £500 by senior directors after 520+ days of accident-free operation and sustained efforts from all employees to further improve health and safety levels.

Kate Blow, GIFTS fundraising & marketing manager, says: “We’re absolutely thrilled because donations like this do make all the difference. Our role is all about improving the quality of life for our terminally ill patients and this money will go a long way to help maintain the vast range of services we provide.”

Vivienne Chambers, fundraiser for Lincolnshire Air Ambulance, adds: “All donations are gratefully accepted, especially those out of the blue, so we’re indebted to our new friends at Corus Grantham. Every penny does count and when you consider a day’s manoeuvres costs approximately £500 then a single amount like this plays a significant part in making that possible.”

GIFTS Hospice provides care and support at its day hospice in Grantham plus at patient’s own homes. They also offer practical and emotional support groups, bereavement counselling and a Welfare Officer who is able to give advice on the benefits available to help ease the financial burden at such difficult times.

County Air Ambulance has been operational for 11 years and last year was its busiest ever with 1,033 missions undertaken – 50% of which were road traffic accidents. It receives no government or NHS funding however and requires £1.5 million per year to operate.