Craven shows its caring side with launch of community foundation

Manchester-based Craven Group has launched The Craven Foundation, to support disadvantaged children and young people in having a better future.   CEO, Dermot Craven knows a thing or two about hard times: now at the helm of two successful businesses – Craven Scaffolding and property specialist Craven & Company – life hasn’t always been so easy.

The seventh of 12 children, Dermot lost both his parents at a young age and was expelled from school aged 15, setting up his first business from a caravan in the garden of his council house.

It was grit, determination and focus that turned around Dermot’s fortune and he’s now determined to help children and young people, who don’t have many opportunities, to stay focussed on their ambition and reach their potential.

Out of this desire to give back to the community, the Craven Foundation was born.   Each year, The Craven Group will select a handful of deserving causes to support – with time, mentoring, employment opportunities and donations.

Since its launch in January 2018, The Craven Foundation has already lent support to three deserving causes: Learning Point, a community initiative that aims to improve numeracy and literacy; Jimmy Egan’s Boxing Academy, which is at the heart of the Wythenshawe community and keeps local kids off the streets; and giving primary school children in Salford the chance to watch a super league rugby match.

The first financial donation of £1,000 by the Craven Foundation goes Jimmy Egan’s Boxing Academy, an organisation close to Dermot’s heart.   The boxing centre is run by a team of volunteers who, as well as being avid boxers, are dedicated to teaching children and young people respect, discipline and manners.

Dermot commented: ”The guys who volunteer at Jimmy Egan’s deserve a medal – they’re keeping fifty or sixty kids a week off the streets of Wythenshawe, and teaching them to channel any aggression into positive energy.  I’m a long-time supporter of the centre – my own son learned to box there and 30 years ago I donated some scaffolding for them to hang their first punch bags from!”

Steve Egan, who runs the gym, said: ”This donation means everything.  We’re all about giving kids a bit of guidance in life.   We run on a shoe string and charge a couple of quid for kids to come to our sessions – but we can’t turn away people who can’t pay, so Craven’s donation helps us to keep running and keep helping.”

Jimmy Egan’s boxing academy (www.facebook.com/jimmyegansboxingacademy) has turned out mega stars of the boxing world, including former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury. It also champions girls in boxing and is currently training 17-year-old Courtney Mcarthy, who won the National Youth Championships last year – and is hotly tipped to deliver a repeat performance.

The second initiative already supported by the Craven Foundation is a hard-working Learning Point numeracy and literacy programme in Manchester.  Craven has committed to subsidising the cost of extra tuition for children and contributing to a fund that aims to help gifted and talented children reach their full potential.

Dermot Craven said: “It is essential that children from all backgrounds are given a fair chance and we’re passionate about helping to create a level playing field so that access to education is not a postcode lottery.”

Keen to also offer opportunities that go beyond the classroom, The Craven Foundation recently invited 20 children from Moore Field Primary school to watch a super league rugby match at AJ Bell Stadium, an event sponsored by The Craven Group.

The Craven Foundation is set to roll out more initiatives over the year, including a scheme that supports the rehabilitation of local prisoners into the workforce.