KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
28th January 2021
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An Industry to be Proud of!
BCG's 'Big Challenge', which was launched to the press in June and has run alongside the organisation of this year's Big Tour will, if completed, directly help over 650 children living and benefiting from Action for Children projects here in the UK.
"Completing this challenge is looking more and more likely every day," promises Chris Honer, BCG's Managing Director.
"The response has been overwhelming; I couldn't have dreamt for one moment, that when we started down this road we would enlist the help and generosity of so many individuals and businesses from across this industry.
"I am truly astounded by the response this challenge has harvested - and completely amazed by the kindness and support we have been confronted with.
"Action for Children is a remarkable organisation and I am so proud that BCG has been instrumental in doing something truly good for these children. I am also extremely proud to work and know so many compassionate people."
The BCG 'Big Challenge' has attracted an incredible number of organisations from across the kitchen and bathroom industries to come forward and pledge their support with such generous donations for this remarkable charity. A huge number of BCG's Big Tour contributors including GDHA, Astracast, Saniflo, Baumatic, Twyford Bathrooms, 2020Fusion, Franke, InSinkerator and Ideal Standard to name a few, have been instrumental in providing most of the appliances, bathroom suites and products needed to fulfil the Action for Children requirements.
More astonishingly has been the number of independent retailers who have come forward and offered both their services and in some cases complete kitchens to a number of the 16 projects.
Sue Fieldhouse of Cadbury Kitchens in Yatton pledged her support in August and has been instrumental in supporting the 'Avalon' respite project in
Yatton, North Somerset. Sue, whose retail showroom is in the same village as Avalon, has worked tirelessly over the past couple of months with the Action for Children team to design a kitchen that will suit the needs of the young people in the care of this project both now and into the future.
Sue's installers will be working with the kitchen's donator's to fit and provide a finished kitchen which the children of Avalon can enjoy.
"We were delighted to be approached for our help in designing a new kitchen and utility for Avalon," enthuses Sue.
"It has been a pleasure to support, what is for us, a local project; especially as it does such a fantastic, worthwhile job. We hope that our efforts will contribute to a wonderful new facility for the children and staff. We would encourage everyone reading this to become involved."
Adrian and Dawn Wittering of Wittering West in Kettering have also made the donation of a complete kitchen for The John Waterhouse Project in Kenilworth. The John Waterhouse Project supports disabled children and their families by providing residential short breaks for children with severe learning difficulties.
The current kitchen is not large, but the project hopes that the new kitchen when fitted will make the best use of space and allow more opportunities for young people to spend time helping to prepare meals.
Says Adrian Wittering: "Helping a project such as 'The John Waterhouse Project' is a pleasure. When we heard about the challenge at Ascot in the summer I had no hesitation in pledging our support. If we can help to improve the lives of a handful of children here in the UK then I am honoured to be involved. This challenge is making a quantifiable difference and I can't believe that BCG has achieved so much in such a short space of time. Action for Children must be thrilled to have gained such support."
STARS, which is a purpose built Action for Children project in Telford offering residential short breaks for severely disabled children, has also been donated a complete kitchen by Bill and Marilyn Pnaisier of Junction2Interiors in Oldbury.
Jacqueline Topham, Project Manager at Telford STARS, says:
"We have built planters in our garden to grow what we eat and this has encouraged more of our young people to want to work in the kitchen. To have an up-to-date modern kitchen would mean so much to the young people we support as well as our staff. Action for Children is incredibly grateful to BCG and their sponsors for making all this possible."
Also benefitting from this remarkable challenge is The Collies, another respite project offering short breaks for disabled children - as well as other services.
Sheralyn Turner, Project Co-Ordinator comments:
"We provide information for young people about healthy food and diet as well as personal and food hygiene to support them to build transferable skills once they leave Action for Children. Cooking remains the favourite activity of all generations of young people we work with - it is fun, it is messy and most importantly, the results of their cooking activities are visual and immediate as well as delicious."
A complete kitchen has been donated to this project by William Fox of Cymru Kitchens in Newport, S.Wales.
"Action for Children was brought to my attention as a most worthy cause and I was shown a way in which my business could be of great help. By helping to refurbish a sad and tired looking kitchen in this Action for Children Home, Cymru Kitchens is delighted to be instrumental in making a difference to the lives of the children using this wonderful facility."
BCG would like to thank each and every organisation that has contributed to this most worthy cause and will follow news story with information regarding exact numbers of appliances and equipment received and installed, in the coming weeks.
If you require further information about the Big Challenge or would like to make a donation to the appeal please visit:
26th November 2010