MAXI Construction has revealed details of its involvement in local causes since registering with ESES Communities Portal in April this year.
ESES Communities is a development of Capital City Partnership, funded through the £1.3 billion Edinburgh & South East Scotland City Region Deal. The aim of the ESES Communities portal is to allow communities and good causes throughout the region to find out more about how they can benefit from developments in the City Deal. It is open to any public sector or other organisations across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Scottish Borders and Fife to facilitate matches between business and good causes.
Tom Gray, framework manager and environmental champion at Maxi Construction, explained, “We’re delighted to be associated with ESES Communities. Although we’ve only been working with them for a few months we’ve already been able to connect with and support several local charities and community groups.”
Maxi Construction revealed it has been able to deliver the following community benefits:
Edinburgh School Uniform Bank
Maxi provided a donation of water bottles to Edinburgh School Uniform Bank (ESUB), who provide clothing and essential items to families who struggle to meet the rising costs of sending children to school.
Julia Grindley of ESUB said, “We are experiencing more demand than ever before owing to the cost of living crisis. As well as clothing and stationery, there’s so much more that children need to take to school in order to support their learning experience and everyday wellbeing. Things like insulated water bottles can be expensive items for families to buy, so having Maxi make such a kind offer will mean that 20 local families will be able to send their child to school with one.”
The Pennywell Pantry – Edinburgh
Supporting low income families and individuals in the Muirhouse and West Pilton areas, Maxi Construction provided a 150kg donation of food items to The Pennywell Pantry.
Cara Babineau, who works for Community Renewal to support families within the area, said, “At a time when the costs of living are rising beyond belief, those accessing the Pennywell Pantry are already experiencing or at risk of food poverty within the household. We’re always in need of the donation of foods and essentials such as toiletries, cleaning products and other everyday consumable household items. Being able to provide essentials such as the cereals and other items that Maxi Construction have donated today is invaluable.”
The Salvation Army – Hawick
The Salvation Army offer tailored support in way of budget and debt advice and employment opportunities. Maxi Construction delivered a donation of 200kg of food items to help stock their food bank. Branch Officer, Caroline Brophy-Park MBE, said, “Over the last two years we have been reaching twice as many people as we have previously. Over 695 recipients, many of whom are families, have received support from the foodbank.”
Burnfoot Community Hub – Hawick
Maxi also delivered a donation of 150kg of food items to Burnfoot Community Hub, a community owned and run centre which recently installed a shed enabling them to offer a foodbank facility to those in need in the Burnfoot area of Hawick.
Community engagement supervisor, Joyce Short, said, “At this time when money is so tight and food costs rising, people are really struggling. Having the support from companies like this makes a huge difference. They are able to help us to help our community live better lives and live lives that are not quite as hard as what they would be otherwise.”
Capital City Partnership community benefits officer Calum Munro said, “Maxi have been absolutely fantastic in their proactive enthusiasm to support great causes through their work in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders. They’ve provided real benefit to communities and families through their kind actions and we’re delighted to have made these links through the ESES Communities portal.”
Maxi business support coordinator, Lisa Aitken, commented, “I am grateful to the team at ESES Communities for putting us in contact with these charities and community groups. It has been a real eye-opener getting out into the communities and meeting the volunteers and recipients.
“It is apparent that the cost of living crisis is impacting people from all areas and it’s vital that we do all we can to help support. I look forward to seeing what other projects we can get involved with via the ESES Communities Portal.”
