CRASH recognised by the Prime Minister with Big Society Award
CRASH, a homelessness charity that works with the construction and property industry, wins the Prime Minister’s Big Society award.
Since 1996 CRASH has developed bespoke partnerships across the construction and property industry to build and refurbish emergency night shelters, hostels and day centres, empowering companies to provide more than money to charities on the frontline of the fight against homelessness.
CRASH partners EC Harris and BAM Construction ltd recently rebuilt accommodation and community rooms for the Pilsdon Community in Dorset. They were joined by fellow partners AkzoNobel Dulux Trade, British Gypsum, Knauf Insulation, Areen Design and Hanson. The combined value of their expertise and materials saved the homelessness charity £152,090. The result is a well-designed, high quality building that will last for years and offer shelter and help to vulnerable people.
Last year, CRASH supported 68 homelessness projects, leveraging £188,974 of pro-bono professional expertise, £190,391 of donated and discounted materials and cash grants totalling £155,586 to help improve buildings and services.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
The innovative approach CRASH takes harnesses the world-class skills and products of our construction industry to tackle the issue of homelessness.
This Big Society Award recognises the remarkable achievements of everyone involved.
CRASH Chief Executive Francesca Roberts said:
We are thrilled and proud that the work of CRASH has been recognised by the Prime Minister. CRASH is the big society in action; the charity lies at the heart of the construction and property industry and is the conduit by which the companies and their employees can practically put something back to help communities across the UK.
CRASH employs only 5 full time staff and can deliver so much help because we tap into the great resources of the companies that support the charity. This award honours the people and the companies who do so much to share their expertise, time and skill to help homeless people. CRASH is all about sharing what you are naturally good at and sharing of ourselves is what charity is all about.
CRASH patrons
The patron companies of CRASH pioneer the work that needs to be done, collaborating to provide the maximum impact possible to improve the buildings homeless people need. The patron companies all play their part working with CRASH to provide expertise, materials and donations:
- A-Plant
- ACO Technologies
- AECOM
- CDI AndersElite
- Areen Design
- Argent LLP
- Balfour Beatty
- BAM Construct UK
- Bauder
- British Gypsum
- Buildbase
- Carillion
- City & Guilds
- AkzoNobel Dulux Trade
- EC Harris LLP
- Galliford Try
- Hanson
- Hilti (GB) Ltd
- Imtech
- Knauf
- KOREC
- Land Securities
- Lend Lease
- Network Rail
- RedSky IT
- Ryder Architecture
- Siniat
- Sto Ltd
- Taylor Wimpey