Tackling Poverty - Good News Stories

As a business, we have set a vision to be a force for good. We know that Covid-19 has had a huge 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 why we are supporting a national Build Back better movement. This blog will highlight the how we are playing our part as a business to reduce poverty and support the individuals who need it most.

Easter is a time of year that can be even more challenging for people and families struggling to afford food, which is why our employees (or Novus Easter Bunnies) across the country wanted to play their part in donating Easter Eggs to local Food Banks.

Poverty in the UK

According to the Social Metrics Commission report, 14.3 million people are in poverty in the UK, of which 8.3 million are working-age adults, 4.6 million are children, and 1.3 million are of pension age.

It is clear that from these figures, many people struggle to afford food and it’s estimated that over 500,000 people in the UK are now reliant on food parcels, with 2 million people in the UK deemed to be “undernourished”.

How Novus has been helping Easter

Click here to view just some of the highlights of how Novus teams throughout the UK helped to support our Food Bank (Easter) Appeal: https: Novus Easter Egg Appeal Blog

As part of the Build Back Better campaign, Novus is launching their “Volunteer Hero” initiative, which will see all Novus employees actively encouraged to undertake volunteer work in their local communities during ordinary work hours.

Novus is working in Birkenhead in Merseyside, refurbishing a derelict building into offices and temporary accommodation for a client who provides accommodation for people who are at risk of, about to become, or are homeless. The Novus team have held a series of skills workshops to provide the residents with painting and decorating skills, and give them an insight into a career in construction.

As part of the planned maintenance contract with Home Group, Novus Stoke has recently completed the installation of new kitchens at Pomona Place, Pomona House, Hereford.

We asked the scheme manager at Pomona House if there was anything residents would appreciate us doing at this scheme, and the main suggestions were to donate hot drinks supplies, as the consumption is very high at the property and residents are often asking staff for more supplies.

Pomona House homes single homeless people with support needs, that have a local connection to Herefordshire.

Being able to have a steady supply of hot drinks seems like a small thing, but we have been assured that the residents are very appreciative of the donation and that it is a helpful resource to get through the day whilst building on the support they need.

The donation was kindly gifted by Mains Services who we have been working with on this scheme.

As a business, Novus has set a clear vision to be a force for good. We know that Covid-19 has had a huge impact on our society and therefore, as a responsible business, we are committed to playing our part in supporting the communities who need the most help.

Novus Food Bank Appeal

In 2020, 32% of Novus colleagues voted that Novus should be supporting local food banks. Therefore across December and January, we held the Novus Food Bank Appeal as part of our wider Build Back Better Campaign.

Click the link to view some of the highlights of how Novus teams throughout the UK helped to support our Food Bank Appeal: Novus Food Bank Appeal Blog

We launched our Build Back Better Challenge in Q1 with the chance for a charitable cause across the UK to win £5,000 worth of support from Novus. The Homeless Project in Manchester won this support as voted by our employees with their facilities being refurbished to improve the experience of their guests.

As part of the planned maintenance contract with Home Group, Novus Stoke has recently completed the installation of new kitchens at Longden House, Manchester.

We asked the staff at Longden House if there was anything we could donate, that they might think would be of benefit to the residents at this scheme and quite simply, the response was to have a kettle and hot drinks supplies donated to the communal kitchen area.

The residents at the scheme use the communal area to interact with each other and any visitors they have, such as support workers.

Being able to have a kettle and supplies in the communal area means they don’t have to walk up to their rooms in order to make drinks only to have to bring them back down to where they are trying to socialise.

The donation was kindly gifted by Mains Services who we have been working with on this scheme.

The raised flower beds at a Wrexham County Borough Council sheltered housing scheme, where Novus is providing roof improvement works on, had become extremely overgrown.  Novus volunteers offered to remove the weeds, tidy the beds and plant some seasonal bedding plants, and with the support of our supply chain partner, Kato group, the warden and a resident of Plas Y Delph, the area has been transformed. Everyone was very happy with how the beds have turned out and are pleased to be able to see some colour back by the entrance of their home.

Whilst working on several contracts for Wrexham County Borough Council, our Wrexham team have helped create a wild flower meadow.

On the Civils contract we had to locate a large compound to store the heavy plant and materials for the works which was temporary located on some green space.  Once the compound was relocated the we wanted to not only make good again, but improve the area even more for the local community.

Having consulted with the local community, local Councillor and the Council, it was decided that planting a wildflower meadow in the area would not only make the area look more pleasant, it would improve the area for wildlife and be a part of the Councils “Green infrastructure project” initiative.

We partnered with the North Wales Wildlife Trust who came along to advise us of how best to prepare and plant the area and then carry out the works, Mother nature has done the rest.