A new Grotto for Santa

Dec 9, 2015

Emanuel Whittaker and a number of its suppliers have been giving a helping hand to Santa at his grotto at Dr. Kershaw’s hospice in Oldham.

Every year the hospice hosts a very popular Christmas Extravaganza which raises funds for the hospice and Santa has been known to drop in and say hello.  Obviously, he needs his own grotto and Arron Cheshire, Community Fundraiser from Dr Kershaw’s, was concerned it was not up to scratch.

“We had been using a small and dark office in the Hospice, but we wanted something that was a bit brighter and more magical for Santa,” he said.  “We decided to ask our friends at Emanuel Whittaker if they could help.”

Facilities Manager from Emanuel Whittaker, Phil Peacock was confident that, with the help of other local businesses, Santa could enjoy a more luxurious base while visiting the hospice.  Timber was provided by Joseph Parr and Howarth Timber which allowed the Emanuel Whittaker joiners to build walls and a door onto the existing wooden gazebo within the Hospice grounds.  Signage to the grotto was provided by Signbox and Bladen Electrical made sure all the electricals were safe to use.  Kind volunteers from Dr Kershaws decorated the grotto and made it habitable for Santa to use during his visit.

‘As usual we were bowled over by the kindness and generosity of our sub-contractors,” said Phil.  “The space has been maigically transformed from a gazebo which was exposed to the elements to a lovely and cozy grotto which is a much nicer area for Santa to talk to the children of Oldham.”

Typically, the great British weather meant further shelter for other stall holders was needed and Arron asked if Phil had any contacts who could provide a marquee.  Fortunately, Phil is a Scout Leader and so he put a call out on Facebook to the North West scouting community.  The Oldham and District scouts came to the rescue and not only provided the marquee but also enough scouts to erect it and to take it down – saving the hospice around £1000.

“We have been very moved by the kindness of Emanuel Whittaker and their sub-contractors and of course the fabulous scouts from Oldham who made our Christmas Extravaganza such a success,” said Arron.  “The event raised over £8,000, with the grotto making just under £500 and everyone who attended was pleased for the cover provided by the marquee. Most importantly of all, Santa was very impressed with his grotto and said it had never looked nicer.”

Salford church celebrates new kitchen

May 10, 2015

Emanuel Whittaker give community centre a facelift

Feb 10, 2014

Emanuel Whittaker is renowned for its work in the community and so when our client City West Housing Trust was looking for help to spruce up a local community centre, they approached us for help.

Terry Kidman, Contracts Manager, said:  “Our team were already working on the Brookhouse Estate in Eccles refurbishing City West properties and so we were happy to provide assistance to the local community.  The first thing we had to do was to assess just what needed to be done.”

The Brookhouse Community Centre is owned by City West and is the venue for numerous community activities – many of them theatrical.

The kitchen and toilets in particular had seen better days.

“We took out the old kitchen units and replaced them with new ones which were kindly donated by Manhattan Kitchens,” said Terry.  “We also decided to utilise a ‘dead’ space near the kitchen and put in cupboards and units to provide extra storage facilities and more room for food preparation. In the toilets we provided new flooring and repainted them which really made a difference.”

The £6,500 facelift was completed within a week and with minimum fuss or disruption to the numerous activities that take place within the Centre.

Fiona Canavan who regularly attends the Centre said:  “We were so pleased that Emanuel Whittaker was able to help.

“The Centre is a much loved and well used community resource and as a result it was looking a little tired.  Now the renovated kitchen and toilets look as good as new and will no doubt last us for many years to come.”

Martyn Hague, Head of Communities and Neighbourhoods at City West, said: “The community centre is a focal point for customers in the area and we are delighted Emanuel Whittaker were able to help with the improvement works.

“The feedback from our customers has been fantastic and we hope they can continue to enjoy the many events that bring the community together.”

Emanuel Whittaker raise funds for Holly’s Heart

Feb 6, 2014

The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund at Leeds General Hospital is looking £2414 fatter thanks to the generosity of Emanuel Whittaker and our partner suppliers and sub contractors.

Emanuel Whittaker has recently given its support to a Charity Golf Day to raise monies for this fund which is very dear to the heart of Health, Safety & Environment Manager, Lee Bradbury, whose daughter Holly has been receiving treatment at the unit since she was born.

Lee and his family live in Greenfield and Holly was born with a Ventricular Septal Defect with Double Outlet Right Ventricle, a congenital heart defect, which means she has very little wall between the two pumping chambers of her heart.

Lee said:  “Holly’s condition would have continuously deteriorated with breathing getting harder and Holly at risk of heart attack or failure. Her prognosis was that without immediate corrective surgery, she would only live until she was six or seven years old and as a result we agreed to Holly having several major operations, when she was four months old, two and six, and obviously each one was very worrying for all of us.”

“Everyone at the Fund is immensely grateful for the monies which help to provide specialist equipment for the Paediatric Heart Unit at Leeds General Infirmary, and make life in hospital easier for the children that stay there.  This includes providing play room toys, DVDS, games, iPod and TVs.”

It’s good news for Holly who, thanks to her operations, can now look forward to a normal life.

“Thanks to the work and dedication of everyone at the hospital, Holly has a future,” said Lee. “She will never be able to win a race but at least she has the energy to take part now!  The generosity of the supporters of the Emanuel Whittaker Charity Golf Day means that other children will be able to enjoy the same great support that we did.”

Emanuel Whittaker selection boxes help families in need this Christmas

Dec 16, 2013

Emanuel Whittaker has been playing Santa this week. The company’s employees have been asked to support the Your Manchester Challenge, a scheme being organised by social housing provider Your Housing Group to prepare and deliver 1250 seasonal gift packs to residents across the Greater Manchester area.

Clive Newton Managing Director for Emanuel Whittaker said:  “We work with Your Housing Group as part of the Procure Plus Framework across several of its housing estates and we really liked the idea of the Challenge.  We appealed to our head office staff and everyone working across our North West sites to get involved and as usual, our staff have been very generous.

“Even sub-contractors such as M&R Heating joined the campaign.”

The Your Manchester Challenge seasonal gift pack will be suitable for up to four people and contain no fewer than eight items – four of which will be food related.  The packs will be delivered to people who are living in difficult financial circumstances.

Emanuel Whittaker work with social housing organisations across the region and recognise how people on low incomes are struggling to cope with bills, particularly at Christmas.  “The high price of energy in particular is having an impact on household incomes,” said Clive.  “Some residents have to decide whether to heat or eat and so the gift packs will provide some help – plus it’s always nice to receive an unexpected gift at this time of year.”

The Trussel Trust, a charity that works with local communities to combat poverty reports that 13 million people live below the poverty line in the UK and everyday people go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income.   As a result, there has been a 170% rise in numbers turning to food banks in the last 12 months.

Emanuel Whittaker staff have now delivered over 250 selection boxes to Your Housing Group who will add them to their seasonal gift packs.  Zoe Hampson from the housing association said: “We launched the challenge after our team saw first-hand the extent of food poverty affecting some residents in the region.

“Since September the local teams across Manchester have been working tirelessly to raise money and work with partners like Emanuel Whittaker to gather donations in order to achieve our target. The generosity of Emanuel Whittaker and their sub-contractors will certainly help.”

Support the Challenge on Twitter @Mcr_Challenge and “like” it on Facebook: Your Mcr Challenge