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Food Bank Collection kickstarts new community fund

24 July 2013

Leading Stoke-on-Trent employer Steelite International has today launched a new high-profile fund designed to help the most deserving charities and community groups in its home city.

As part of its 30th anniversary celebrations the company has established the Steelite Community Fund and has pledged to support deserving organisations within a five-mile radius of its headquarters in Middleport.

Kind-hearted employees at the Queen’s Award-winning company’s Middleport factory kickstarted this major new initiative by committing to collecting up to 2,500 items of food for the Stoke Food Bank, which will then be distributed to the city’s most needy homes.

The food collection is the first of numerous initiatives planned by the 900-strong workforce, including a stunning Teacup and Candlelight Ball scheduled for October which it is hoped will raise tens of thousands of pounds for the community fund.

Explained Managing Director, Neil Hooper: “Steelite International is one of the city’s leading employers and we recognise that we have a responsibility to support not only our own loyal employees but also the community where so many of them live.

“More than 60 per cent of our workforce lives within just five miles of our headquarters, so we want to support initiatives close to their hearts and activities which can really make a big difference to the lives of families right across the city.

“We have consulted with our employees and have selected four key areas where we believe we can make a difference: in the areas of youth aspiration and education; supporting the elderly; Community Regeneration and encouraging new ceramic entrepreneurs.

“However, this is about more than just giving money – our employees are genuinely kind-hearted and keen to help community initiatives themselves. So when our HR team saw the plea by the local Food Bank in The Sentinel we knew that this would be a great project for us to adopt to kickstart the Steelite Community Fund.

Steelite International launched the fund with an initial £10,000 donation, while employees are also supporting fundraising through a monthly Pot of Gold cash draw scheme, dress down days and sponsored events throughout the year.

Community groups and organisations in Stoke-on-Trent and the Newcastle area who are interested in seeking support from the Steelite Community Fund can apply in writing to Steelite Community Fund, c/o Steelite International, Orme Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 3RB or by emailinggivingsomethingback@steelite.com