Jerram Falkus makes the shortlist for the East London Community Heroes Awards 2022

Jerram Falkus is delighted to announce that we have made the shortlist for the East London Community Heroes Awards 2022 for our exemplary work in local communities. The category we have been shortlisted for is Outstanding Initiative in Health & Wellbeing.

Site Manager Ricky Smith will represent the company in this nomination due to his outstanding contribution to local communities through his organisation of a fundraising charity golf day. For the past 3 years, the event has taken place to raise funds for children with debilitating illnesses.

The award ceremony will be held on 1st October at LondonEast-UK Conference Centre in Dagenham and will be attended by several dignitaries including MPs, DLs, Mayors and Councillors.

Improving the mental health and well-being of our local community

As a company, we have always prided ourselves in supporting those in need. One way we make this a reality is by playing a part in improving the mental health and well-being of those who live in the areas where we work in. We believe that giving back to our community is an important part of our civic duty. We witness on a daily basis, in areas across East London, the deprivation that still exists. Sadly, on our own, we cannot solve all the issues faced by the communities that we come into contact with, but we can at least try to raise awareness and support residents to be empowered for the future.

Open access to our sites’ AED

We enable open access for all members of the community to our sites’ AED for heart attacks and fully stocked first aid kits. We offer staff training in mental health and first aid in order to support site staff, their immediate families and the wider community.

Employing local residents with additional learning needs

By employing local residents with additional learning needs, we support and empower people who otherwise may not have a wealth of opportunities. This in turn can improve their overall health and wellbeing, allowing them to lead rich and fulfilled lives. It can also encourage independence and improve social skills in order to develop a sense of healthy belonging within society. This initiative has enriched our sites with high-quality, hardworking staff and created a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

Growing spaces around our sites for the local community

On each project, we support and create growing spaces around the sites to encourage local residents to spend time outdoors, learn new skills, engage with the natural environment, socialise and make new connections and grow and raise organic, healthy food.

Supporting local food banks and organising fundraising events

Jerram Falkus also makes financial contributions to local food banks, as well as to small, grassroots community groups, who make items to be given to less fortunate people. At our head office, we organise fundraising events for health awareness and illness prevention charities, such as breast and prostate cancer, Macmillan nurses and MIND.

The company supports numerous health and wellbeing projects; mainly outdoor environmental care activities in schools, colleges and community groups.  We recognise the importance of ensuring that the younger generations are equipped with the skills and knowledge that they need to thrive.

Community activities and volunteering

Our staff, in their spare time, undertake activities within their own communities – one director has run a karate club for children and adults in their home town for many years and another director has been managing a Sunday morning football club in Essex for young people for over 10 years. We also have staff involved with their local church and some who run marathons to fundraise for national health-related causes.

Fundraising charity golf day

Alongside the Sammy Jo Brandon Foundation, Site Manager Ricky Smith runs a fundraising charity golf day to help children with debilitating illnesses. In the last 3 years, the event has raised over £14,000 and is always well attended and supported by friends, family and colleagues from Jerram Falkus.

Suppliers and business partners who work with Jerram Falkus nominate someone they know who is in need and requires support, which can be provided by the fundraising venture. So far, these nominations have all been for children, one suffering from mitochondrial disease, one with a brain tumour and one with leukaemia.

The money raised gets converted into holiday vouchers and spending money for the immediate family. This allows them to experience a needed, well-deserved break and respite from the challenges of their day-to-day lives.

These holidays have particularly benefitted siblings as often they don’t get to spend ‘fun time’ and attention with their parents, as they tend to spend their time as ‘part’ carers too. The holiday breaks lead to a break of less stress and assist in rebuilding family relationships through play, family-engaged mealtimes and time for talking. It ultimately enables the family to enjoy a normal holiday together.

Each family has given positive feedback to Ricky – praising him for organising this initiative. The families thanked him for creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a memory-making holiday for all the family.

Ricky said: “I think everyone involved really gets a feel of what these families go through and I feel we get stronger with it every year. It’s so rewarding being able to give a family the opportunity to have a break from their everyday difficulties.”

Fundraising and creating hope

100% of the funds raised by the event go directly to the family and Jerram Falkus supports Ricky each year with a financial donation. This year, the event raised over £2500 and was held in aid of a young child who has Leukaemia. Niko’s family was hit hard by the pandemic financially and following this they then received the news of Niko’s health. Niko now has to undergo 2 years of therapy and we hope he pulls through.

Ricky said “giving this family the opportunity to have that break from their day-to-day life is so important. We had to raise as much as possible.”

Ricky and the Jerram Falkus team look forward to finding out the result of our nomination at the East London Community Heroes Awards ceremony in October.

More information on the Awards is here and about the charity golf day in the Romford Recorder here.

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