Charity: Business donation helps Three Peaks walkers; Digital agency supports children’s charity; Chemical company’s recycling scheme to benefit schoo

AIREDALE CHEMICAL has boosted its CSR policy and commitment to the environment with the announcement of a partnership with social enterprise SCRAP in Farsley.

From balls of wool to outsized cardboard tubes, Airedale Chemical is donating its weird and wonderful waste which would otherwise be sent to landfill to SCRAP, the Centre of Creative Play and Learning.

The lorry load of textiles, bottle tops and containers will provide hours of fun for the users of the centre which includes schools and local community groups taking part in workshops, training, art drop-in sessions, family learning activities or use of the SCRAP Store to buy materials.

Karen Waddington, health and safety advisor for Airedale Chemical, said: “We have been working really hard on our environmental policy over the last couple of years but this has been one of the most fun and rewarding projects we’ve been involved with.

“To see the items which were previously being thrown into a skip or sent to landfill become puppets, rockets and art projects for the young people visiting SCRAP is fantastic.”

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WALKERS heading for the summit of Pen-y-ghent in the Yorkshire Dales National Park will have a little less surface water to wade through thanks to national drainage and water management specialists JDP.

Over the years, a deep gully appeared along a wall on part of the Yorkshire Three Peaks route that runs up to the summit at Brackenbottom Pasture near Horton in Ribblesdale.

Steve Hastie, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Three Peaks Area Ranger, said: “The surface water is only a problem in heavy rain. The way the land lies means all the water gathers and flows down the wall side, eroding the path and pushing hikers into the field, which causes wider erosion.  We were looking for a way to gather the water safely and manage its progress down the slope so no further damage occurred.

“JDP designed a solution and have very kindly donated all the materials – worth more than £3,500 – to help the Authority complete the project.”  

Pipes, connectors and a water collection pit produced by JFC and CPM were trucked in from JDP’s Skipton branch, with the work being undertaken by National Park Authority Rangers.

Other local contractors were inspired to chip in with offers. A dumper truck and excavator were provided by Hellifield-based Marsden Agricultural and Environmental Services free of charge, and a local farmer gave his time to move the collection pit when it was delivered.

The Authority’s Member Champion for Recreation Management, Nick Cotton, said: “The Three Peaks Project was set up by the National Park Authority to allow members of the public and the commercial sector to support the conservation of this iconic area.

“In these times of reduced resources, this project was a great example of our corporate and business supporters working with us to achieve National Park purposes.”

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ENJOY DIGITAL has been appointed by children’s charity Variety to provide social media management of its events programme, which raises funds to provide support for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children across Yorkshire.

The Leeds-based digital marketing agency will work on Variety’s calendar of events. Established in 1949, Variety helps children throughout the UK who are sick, disabled or disadvantaged by providing practical support and memorable experiences through childhood outings.

Charlotte Farringdon, regional development manager for Variety Yorkshire, said: “We are thrilled Enjoy Digital will be assisting with our busy events programme throughout Yorkshire, to boost social media engagement that is so integral to our fundraising efforts.”

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A CARNIVAL of disability sport is set to take over a city centre square this Saturday to celebrate the beginning of the Paralympic Games in Rio.

Held from 12-4pm, those in attendance can enjoy a range of disability and Paralympics sports for free on Millennium Square as part of the ‘Leeds 2 Rio’ event. Set to feature will be; tennis; athletics; table tennis; rowing; powerlifting; boccia; football; adapted bikes; goalball and many more.

Accompanying the event, which has been organised in partnership with Leeds Disability Sport Youth Panel and the Yorkshire Sport Foundation, will be all the action from the Rio Paralympic Games on Millennium Square’s big screen.

Also available each evening next week on Millennium Square from 5-7pm (Monday 12 September-Friday 16 September) will be a series of taster sessions of events set to feature on Saturday.

Leeds City Council’s executive member with responsibility for sport, Cllr James Lewis, said: “We are very proud to have in Leeds some wonderful clubs, coaches and athletes who are doing such a brilliant job in demonstrating why disability should not be a barrier to sport. Throughout the year we work extremely hard on our disabled sport programme, and it is great to see so many people of all ages taking part.

“The Paralympics is a tremendous showcase of disability sport and because of its success and popularity we want to highlight what opportunities are available in Leeds to have fun and get involved.

“A wide range of disability and Paralympic sports will be available for people to try as part of the Leeds 2 Rio event on 10 September, which sit aside a series of taster sessions we will also be hosting every evening next week on Millennium Square from 5pm-7pm.”

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BARRATT Developments Yorkshire West, which includes both Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, has raised £5,760 through hosting its charity golf day, with the funds being donated to two charities.

The event saw 19 teams descend on the fairways and greens of Willow Valley Golf Club to drive, chip and putt their way around the Brighouse course, with all funds raised from the day being split between Leeds based St Gemma’s Hospice, and national charity the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Players also took part in an auction to raise further funds.

Ian Ruthven, managing director for Barratt Developments’ Yorkshire West division, said: “We’re thrilled at how successful our charity golf day has proven and are incredibly proud to have raised £5,760 for two very worthy causes. We’re always looking for new ways to help those less fortunate than ourselves, and the funds raised from our golf day will go directly to the two very deserving charities we’ve chosen. It was great to see so many people out on the course in the name of charity, but also getting competitive to shoot as low a score as possible. We’d like to thank all of the individuals and organisations for taking part and helping to ensure the day was a success.”