Novus Blog

As a business, we know that Covid-19 has had an impact on our society and as a responsible business, we are committed to playing our part in supporting the communities who need the most help. This is where the Build Back Better Challenge comes in…

Build Back Better Challenge

In February 2021, we are launching the Build Back Better Challenge, our new initiative which aims to support a good cause, community project or vulnerable person throughout the year.

This support could vary between:

• Volunteering our skills
• Material donation
• Financial donation
• A combination of them all!

Nominations will align with our focus areas of Reducing Poverty, Promoting Good Health & Wellbeing, and Improving the Environment.

Our Novus colleague panel will decide which nomination they feel Novus can have the most impact on.

How do I get Involved in the Build Back Better Challenge?

Anyone can nominate a good cause, we want our employees, supply chain, customers and wider community to get involved.

You can nominate a good cause by visiting the Build Back Better page on this website or by emailing your nomination to buildbackbetter@novussolutions.co.uk.

Great Causes We Have Supported

Looking for some inspiration? Here are just some of the good causes we have supported previously:

Supporting Environmental Projects Novus have supported a wide range of environmental improvement projects ranging from community clean up events, to improving communal garden areas, to creating wild life meadows.

One example was when Novus supported The Derbyshire Eco Centre, which provides skills-based activities that are focused around the environment for a range of vulnerable groups.

These range from disabled young people to long term unemployed individuals.

Novus volunteers, and a donation of materials helped improve their facilities by creating raised planters, building new seating areas, and constructing a storage area for all the garden tools.

Supporting Community Projects Novus have improved community facilities across the country, ranging from full Community Centre refurbishments, to installing a new kitchen, to a handy man carrying out general repairs.

The Riverside Youth Centre in Livingston received a full refurbishment by Novus Volunteers, the materials required were also donated.

Improvements included a new kitchen, new foyer, redecoration throughout and an IT suite created.

The young people who use the Centre were involved in deciding what areas needed improving, and as a result the Youth Centre have improved facilities for the whole of the community.

Supporting Skills Development Novus as a business offer skills development opportunities in a range of ways. From supporting career events, delivering career talks, to hosting DIY Skills workshops.

The Macari Homeless Centre provides support and safe, secure shelter for homeless people in need across Stoke on Trent.

Novus volunteers held a skills workshop at the Centre teaching the residents painting skills and also providing employment advice.

Donations and sponsorship At Novus we believe we can have a greater impact when we involve our skilled employees and utilise our supply chain partners, however there are occasions when support by making a donation or providing sponsorship is required.

Novus Devon office Donated £2500 to the Guinness Partnership Food Bank initiative to help set up Food Pantries in Sheltered Housing Schemes across the Region.

Supporting Vulnerable People

Our employees nominate vulnerable individuals who they would like to volunteer their time to support.

These acts of kindness can range from helping an elderly person with their garden that has become overgrown, or helping a vulnerable family redecorate their new home or improve access for a disabled person.

The Novus team in Southampton while improving Housing on a road heard of a very sad situation with a family.

The team wanted to support in anyway they could, and offered to volunteer and donate materials to redecorate the home even though they were not part of the planned works.

Your Nomination Can Make a Big Difference

Some of the projects we have supported that have had the greatest impact would not have come fruition without the nomination first being put forward to us.

One example of this is the Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton.

The Midwives on the Ward wanted to convert a disused room near their Ward into a Bereavement Suite. Novus took on the challenge and with the support of our supply chain partners delivered on this wish.

These are just some of the examples of support that Novus have and can provide through this Build Back Better Challenge.

Be sure to nominate your worthy cause each month via the Build Back Better web page or by emailing buildbackbetter@novussolutions.co.uk