Like all of Sandwell Council, Urban Design and Building Services (UDBS) looks to work with partners who give back to people, communities and the environment. It means our collective work brings benefits that reach even further than individual projects.
Dodd Group is a good example of a supplier going beyond the scope of its contracts to deliver more for our region. Dodd Group is Sandwell Council’s specialist mechanical and electrical engineering partner, through the Constructing West Midlands Framework. It’s a family business that started in 1947.
Every year, Dodd Group ballots its 1,060 employees nationwide to choose a charity for all twenty of its offices to support. This year, by an overwhelming majority, Dodd employees opted for the Trussell Trust (the foodbank network) and local foodbanks, to help people who are experiencing food poverty.
Cake sales, head shaves – and a sponsored wax
Dodd Group’s staff took up the challenge immediately. Every branch began collecting food and raising money to support its local foodbank. Across the country, Dodd employees’ fundraising efforts included cake sales, head shaves and even a sponsored wax.
In the first six months of the partnership, Dodd Group delivered more than 2,000 items to foodbanks in the communities in which its branches are based.
In Sandwell, where Dodd Group’s divisional headquarters are on Rabone Park, the local foodbank is at Murray Hall Community Trust in Tipton. Murray Hall operates as a food pantry, so people pay a small membership fee to access good-quality food including fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen and chilled foot, meat and dairy products, plus long-life tinned and packaged food. Food pantries also act as a hub to bring people together in their community.
Dodd Group is a long-time friend of Murray Hall, having supported some of its charity days and provided free repairs to its HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) plant.
“Incredibly deserving charity”
Trevor Pritchard, Senior Operations Contract Manager for Dodd Group here in Sandwell, said his team was delighted to help further.
“Locally we chose Murray Hall because they are a superb charity with their building being used in so many ways to support the community. The Food Pantry [is] … a superb idea and it really helps all families cope a little better with the increase in the cost of living.
“During these challenging times, Murray Hall has been working hard to reassure local children, adults, communities, partners and funders that they remain committed to providing ongoing essential support to their local community whilst ensuring the safety of its staff and volunteers”.
Dodd Group has also set up a GoFundMe page for Murray Hall, encouraging suppliers and subcontractors to support its campaign: https://gofund.me/edb809a0.
Trevor added: “We are passionate about making a difference to the communities in which we work and live and we are working with like-minded organisations to raise funds and provide support for this incredibly deserving charity.”
Thank you to Dodd Group – and to all the businesses doing more in their communities.
Learn about other ways Dodd Group has made a difference in Sandwell.
