This year the VINCI UK Foundation has awarded a total of £220,440 in grants – ranging from £3,000 to £9,500 – to 43 local charitable projects across the UK.
VINCI group companies including Freyssinet, VINCI Energies, VINCI Construction UK, Bachy Soletanche, Eurovia, and Nuvia contribute to the VINCI UK Foundation, which has assisted over 240 charities and community projects with almost £1.6 million in grants and practical support from VINCI employees since it was established in 2016.
The donations will fund or contribute to the purchase or upgrade of transport, equipment, and facilities to aid the charities in their efforts to alleviate social exclusion and strengthen communities. In addition, each project is sponsored by at least one VINCI employee who will offer their time and skills over a 12-month period.
Ruth Ottley, head coordinator for the VINCI UK Foundation, says: “At VINCI, our dedication lies in fostering positive transformation, and the grants and sponsorships provided by the VINCI UK Foundation serve as a direct and tangible means for us to contribute to community improvement. The charitable organisations which we partner with are often a life support for residents within the areas we live and work and often holding personal significance for our sponsors. It’s both an honour and a joy to support the remarkable efforts they undertake.”
Freyssinet’s successful charities for 2023/24 include:
Telford Crisis Support
A charity committed to supporting vulnerable individuals and families facing financial crises in the Telford and Wrekin area, has been granted £6,000 to launch the ‘Budget it / Cook it’ project. The initiative aims to provide practical budgeting lessons and cookery demonstrations for young people, parents, and carers. The project will equip them with essential education and tools for budgeting, managing expenses, planning, batch cooking, and healthy eating, making the most of their resources. The goal is to empower today’s service users’ children with valuable life skills, promoting financial literacy and better mental and physical health for future generations.
www.telfordcrisissupport.org.uk
The Halliday Foundation, Glasgow
A volunteer-driven charity delivering support to vulnerable people in Glasgow. Halliday Foundation services include the Communitea Café, which cooks and sells donated surplus food in a pleasant, warm and welcoming place – encouraging local people to meet and make connections, the Children’s Thrive Programme, mobile Pop-Up Pantries offering free food/household items/haircuts and Kettle Packs delivered to hostel dwellers. The organsation has been granted £6,000 towards its ‘Keeping The Halliday Foundation Mobile’ project for the purchase of a new van which will enable the team to deliver its services over a wider geographical area.
www.thehallidayfoundation.org.uk
Brightstar Boxing Academy, Shifnal
Bright Star is a community amateur sports club specialising in boxing training, working with vulnerable people across Shropshire, Telford, Wolverhampton using boxing as a vehicle to positively influence their direction. The Foundation granted £6,000 towards the purchase of a new minibus, which will enable the group to transport the children and young people they support. They believe transport should not be a barrier which could prevent individuals engaging and accessing the support and services available.