The Screwfix Foundation raises over £500,000 for charity

The Screwfix Foundation has raised an incredible £546,000 for charity since launching just two years ago. The funds have been spread across the UK and helped 200 local charities with building projects and has enabled them to provide better assistance for those in need.

A whopping £253,000 has gone to local charities so far with an additional £101,000 donated to charity partners Macmillan Cancer Support and Barnardo’s Children’s Charity. Our local projects have included hospices, homeless projects, youth projects, food banks, specialist schools and community centres. One of the many charities to have been helped by The Screwfix Foundation is Calum’s Cabin in Bute, Scotland, a charity that provides holidays in specially designed cabins to families of children living with cancer and cancer-related diseases.

Caroline Speirs from Calum’s Cabin comments: “We are very grateful to The Screwfix Foundation for donating these much needed funds to support our charity. Calum’s Cabin offers a holiday cabin and cottage for children suffering from cancer and cancer-related diseases and we’ve helped over 300 children in 2014. The funding will replace the flooring of the cabin to better accommodate disabled users and to make it more hygienic for those with immune deficiencies. We’d like to thank everyone who was involved in the fundraising – it’s been a great help to us.”

The money has been raised through a number of fundraising initiatives organised by Screwfix staff. The highlight of this year was the Tour de Screwfix where over 900 Screwfix employees embarked on a mammoth 6,100 mile national cycle relay between all of their 400 stores. Through hard work, sweat, tears and some punctures, staff at local Screwfix stores across the country raised £81,000 for charity, which was then matched by Screwfix, taking the total to an amazing £162,000!

The tour followed a fantastic year of fundraising events organised independently by Screwfix staff across the UK, who rolled up their sleeves to take part in mud runs, golfing and football tournaments as well as abseiling down Portsmouth’s Spinnaker tower. A number of teams also took part in the three peaks’ challenge – all helping to raise funds for the Screwfix Foundation.

Lindsay Haselhurst, Trustee of The Screwfix Foundation, said: “Since we launched in 2013, we have been dedicated to finding more ways to increase the funds raised year on year. This last year in particular has been fantastic, with Tour de Screwfix being a particular highlight, which has showcased the sheer dedication of the fantastic Screwfix staff. It has been great to see so many employees getting involved however they can by giving up their time to support such a big challenge.

“The money raised by The Screwfix Foundation helps projects to repair, build and maintain properties and facilities which play a vital role in supporting those who rely on the charities in their local communities. With £192,000 still in a pot we urge any UK charity to apply for a share of the funding so we can help even more local charities to make a difference.”

The Screwfix Foundation is now calling out for charities across the UK to apply for a share of the funds raised in 2014/15 via www.screwfixfoundation.com