Community Outreach Programme

Eleven firefighters from Halstead, Essex, have set themselves an incredible challenge. In May 2024, they’ll ascend Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the UK. But here’s the twist – they’ll be doing it wearing their heavy & restrictive fire kits!

Not just connected by our locality, one of the part-time firefighters is also one of our employees, and we were proud to pledge a donation to support this important cause.

Carrying the weight of their gear up such a daunting peak is no easy feat! In addition, they’ve also decided to take a fire service ladder with them and pitch it at the very top. This will be the UK’s highest ladder pitch ever achieved!

They are undertaking this personal trek to raise funds for The Fire Fighters Charity, an incredible organisation that provides invaluable help and support to both active and retired firefighters.

With many of our employees and their families residing in the local area, we were delighted to be given the opportunity to assist with funding a special sleepover at Colchester Castle for the Earls Colne Rainbows, Guides, and Brownies. 

Our contribution allowed for 35 girls to attend the event (plus drinks, snacks, and breakfast!), easing the financial burden on parents and ensuring that no child missed out on the opportunity.

Brown Owl, Karen Steels, said: “Thank you so much for your amazing offer of the extra funding for the girls trip. The girls had an amazing time and the buzz and laughter around the castle was lovely and so heartwarming. The donation that we received from you was amazing and really helped support the girls trip. Thank you so much again.”

Sales & Estimating Manager , Sam Hayden, was thrilled to visit Deputy Headteacher, Neil Woodcock, at Earls Colne Primary School to deliver our donation of 17 computers to their ICT learning centre.

The schools dedicated computing lessons teach children how to use a range of common programmes effectively; how to create code both on-line and using a range of hardware; how to use technology to communicate effectively; and how to ensure that they stay safe when using the internet and social media.

Our computers will allow the school to both increase their teaching capacity for lessons and serve as essential replacements for old machines that are no longer up to scratch.

Simone Christie, Procurement Co-ordinator, organised two successful donation drives for a Ukrainian family staying with local host in Copford, Colchester.

The family arrived in May 2022, leaving behind their father, grandparents and friends and had very little when they arrived with their host Shirley. Since then, the family have been working on improving their English and the girls have been focusing on their studies, attending both a local school in Colchester whilst also completing additional Ukrainian home schooling in alignment with Ukraine requirements.

Shirley wrote: “Thank you and everyone again for the huge kindness and generosity shown to my Ukrainian family, I wish you could have seen their faces when they opened everything, it was pure joy! Ira cried she was so overwhelmed, the girls are prancing around in their dressing gowns as we speak, they are so happy, and we are all blown away by the kindness.”

We were thrilled to see the unveiling of the new Essex & Herts Air Ambulance ‘Supporting Us, Supporting You’ sculpture, the result of the charity’s sculpture Design Project, in collaboration with Harlow College, which takes pride of place at the airbase entrance, right outside our HQ at Earls Colne Airfield.

A team of our manufacturing specialists donated, poured and trowelled the concrete base for the sculpture to sit in, allowing it to be admired and enjoyed for years to come.

Kiera Harkett, Art and Design Student at Harlow College, said: “When visitors see “Supporting Us, Supporting You” I would like them to think about the life-saving work the charity does, making them aware of all the diverse people who play their part, as well as those that are helped every day, and to ultimately appreciate everything that EHAAT has done and will continue to do in the future.”

We have a strong connection to the local community and have been actively involved in various community support projects. When we were approached by Colchester Community Voluntary Services we were delighted to be able to help them provide their shop mobility customers with a more practicable and safer car park and access route at their offices in Colchester.

This vital project allows those with mobility issues to hire electric and manual scooters and access the town centre independently with freedom, confidence and dignity.

Chief Executive Tracy Rudling commented, “Without the support of Milbank Concrete Products and the team they enlisted who united to complete this job, we wouldn’t have been able to provide a safe surface for our members. We are extremely thankful and know this will have a huge impact on the successful running of this project.”