Putting a Roof Over the Heads of the Most Vulnerable

Francesca Roberts, Chief Executive, CRASH explains how roofing companies can help the charity in their work offering construction products, expertise and skills to homelessness hostels and hospices that need building work.

IN THIS EXTRAORDINARY and difficult year, I’ve been amazed by how many companies in the construction industry continue to help CRASH charity put a roof over some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

CRASH is the construction industry’s leading charity that helps homeless people, and children and adults who need hospice care for life-limiting illnesses.

We help by uniting the construction industry to assist homelessness hostels and hospices, deliver their construction projects. We are the only charity that focusses specifically on this vital work.

Help when its needed most

Whether it’s a person who has been sleeping rough and finds shelter in a hostel, or a child or adult who finds care and dignity as they face the end of their life in a hospice, the environments these people find themselves in, has a significant impact on how they feel and behave.

With the help of the companies that support us, CRASH creates places that care for people at the time they need it most. And of course, roofing is a crucial part of the buildings that give hope and dignity to people when they need it most.

Understanding construction

The hospices and homelessness charities CRASH help are impressive at delivering the services people need. Understandably, they’re often inexperienced when it comes to deciphering a lease, purchasing a building or understanding surveys.

They need help from architects to draw up plans and understand them. They also need the invaluable advice from specifiers so they can choose the right products, and make their limited budgets go as far as possible to deliver buildings that will welcome, inspire and care for people. Sometimes they need grants too.

Thanks to the support of companies in the construction industry, CRASH can help them with all of that.

Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice Dining Room

CRASH projects

Recent CRASH projects include building a new extension to Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice, that provides a room that can be used by patients and their families for dining and special events, like celebrating a last anniversary or birthday. We received significant help with this from our Corporate Patron Bauder, who is a long-time supporter of CRASH.

CRASH has also helped with roofing for a homelessness charity in Dover, where people come to live and work, a combination that allows them to move on and have a more stable life in the future.

I wish the fantastic companies that help CRASH by donating their skills and products realised the extraordinary capacity they have to care for people who are at their most vulnerable.

So often, sharing what is commonplace to you or I, has a profound effect on the life of someone who is facing a tough time. You can see a whole variety of the projects that CRASH has helped on our website.

Emmaus Community, Dover

Companies that help

Companies help CRASH from all parts of the construction industry; they either become Corporate Patrons or supporters. There is much good intention in companies, but to have the maximum social impact, it also requires a bit of thought and a plan with a charity partner like CRASH if you want to make a difference for society and your business.

Companies that become a Corporate Patron of CRASH charity can involve their employees, their products, and their expertise to create shelters, hostels and move-on accommodation for people who have been homeless. And create welcoming, caring hospices for children and adults who need compassionate end of life care.

Using your skills wisely

CRASH accepts building assistance applications from charities across the UK, and we conduct all the vetting and due diligence before we contact our Corporate Patrons and ask if they can help. You have peace of mind that your roofing products and skills will be used wisely and have a significant positive impact.

CRASH can offer your company and employees opportunities to be directly involved with charitable projects so they can share their skills and knowledge on every aspect of roofing. We also prepare an annual social impact report that will demonstrate exactly how and where you made a difference.

Covid impact

The repercussions of COVID-19 hit CRASH extremely hard this year, all our fundraising events from March onwards were cancelled. As a result, we need the support of the construction industry more now than ever before in our 25 years.

Christmas Card Appeal

If you’re not ready to be a Corporate Patron, then please support our Christmas Card appeal so we can continue our vital work.

In return for a donation, we will provide your company with a co-branded Christmas e-card that you can send to your clients and employees while helping people who are homeless or in a hospice at the same time.

So, if you are interested in doing good, that is also good for your business and literally puts a roof over the heads of some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, then please contact me.

Become part of CRASH, the construction industry’s leading charity.

Francesca Roberts, Chief Executive, CRASH froberts@crash.org.uk