No sting in this tale! Wincanton’s national distribution centre for Screwfix, located on Prologis Park in Stafford, has pledged to support local charity STING with its fundraising activities this year.
Each year Wincanton, who deal with all Screwfix’s distribution nationwide, nominates a charity to benefit from their fundraising. Their 1000+ workforce puts on a range of activities throughout the year, with the aim of raising a substantial amount of cash, while having a great deal of fun!
This year STING (the acronym stands for Staffordshire Therapeutic Independent Neurological Group) was the Wincanton employees’ selected choice. STING is a recently formed Stone-based charity, previously known as MS-UK Staffordshire Centre. Unfortunately, owing to lack of funding, the National MS-UK charity was forced to withdraw its support from the group last year. Since then, STING has needed to survive totally independently. This has proved very challenging in the current economic climate.
STING works to support anybody in the area with a neurological condition, which includes MS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and others. The group operates from Unit 22b on Stone’s Whitebridge Estate, which is fully adapted for disabled and wheelchair access, thus allowing members to attend regular activities and take part in group discussions, wellbeing sessions and exercise classes, as well as being able to access neurological therapies.
One member of STING works at Wincanton, and nominated their charity to be their Charity of the Year. The workforce recently held a vote, and STING was chosen from a list of several charities. The fundraising committee is currently devising a list of activities to run during the year to raise essential funds for the group.
Gez Prendergast, team manager at Wincanton, coordinates the fundraising committee, and recently arranged for a group from STING to have a tour of the warehouse and meet some of the team who will be carrying out events throughout the year.
“The site takes great pride in the relationship it forges with the nominated charities,” he said. “Considering the fact that STING is local and we have a member of the charity employed at the facility, the engagement and interest is greater than ever. During the time I’ve worked here the involvement and generosity of the people at the Stafford facility has always been incredible – the variance of activities and the willingness of members of the team across all levels and departments to be involved is astounding.”
Members of the group who visited the warehouse were founder member (under its original name of SAMS) Liz Gumbley, Nick Gumbley, Mike Clayton, Alan Moors and Peter Marenghi. The group was extremely impressed with the enthusiasm and positive attitude towards the company’s charities over the years, and were very grateful for the planned support in the coming year.
Wincanton holds a charity week in May, with activities running throughout the whole warehouse over all three shifts, a family fun day in September, charity social events, and many other events throughout the year, organised by staff at the distribution centre. The money raised will ensure that STING is able to continue with its vital work in the community.
The first staff event will be the Alternative Coast to Coast Mountain Bike Ride from Borth in west Wales to Cardiff Bay, which takes place in June. This particular event is being organised by Richard Boote, Wincanton Transport Team Manager, and a team of six will be travelling the 150 mile cross-country route to raise money for STING.
Further details can be found on the online sponsorship page at www.justgiving.com/alternativecoasttocoast
For more information about STING, you can email stings2014@gmail.com, call 07847872635, or check out their Facebook page HERE
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