strong
communities
CRL recognises the importance of supporting the communities in which we operate.
Alongside strengthening and repairing infrastructure, we are committed to helping build resilient, thriving communities and leaving a positive, lasting legacy in the areas where we work. We believe this starts with strong relationships and open communication. By engaging with local communities, we gain a better understanding of what matters most to them and how we can respond effectively to their needs.
CRL actively encourages employees to contribute to the communities in which they live and work. Through our Community Projects Scheme, all employees are entitled to three days of paid leave each year to support community-based initiatives and charitable activities that are meaningful to them.
Our employees have been involved in a wide range of community projects, including fundraising initiatives, environmental improvement schemes, and support within care and educational settings.
In addition, CRL has sponsored local sports clubs connected to our workforce, helping to support their growth and development while strengthening ties within the community.
"Just a quick one to say thank you very much for both the collective CRL donation and individual contributions. It is really appreciated! Please pass on my thanks to the rest of the team at CRL."
Fortem Solution Limited's Sick Children's Fund
“I just wanted to formally thank you and your team for all your work yesterday. It was greatly appreciated, and I look forward to welcoming you back sometime in the future.”
Strathcarron Hospice
Case Studies
CRL Supports Lennox for Annual Golf Day
For more than 30 years, Lennox Children's Cancer Fund has provided practical, emotional, financial and respite support to families facing the challenges of childhood cancer.
From the moment of diagnosis and throughout treatment and beyond, the charity works to ensure that no family has to face their journey alone, offering services including financial grants, family support, practical guidance and free respite breaks.
CRL was proud to once again support Lennox Children's Cancer Fund as both a team sponsor and drinks sponsor at the charity's annual Gold Ribbon Golf Day, helping raise vital funds for children with cancer and their families.
Held at the picturesque Moor Park Golf Club, the event brought together 21 teams from across the construction industry, united by a shared commitment to making a difference.
Supporting Veterans into Civilian Careers
Established in 2014, Building Heroes is dedicated to service leavers, veterans, reservists, military families and bereaved military family members. We provide training and employment support into a new career in construction by equipping individuals with a broad range of trade skills and then connecting them with a network of employers.
CRL attended a Building Heroes workshop morning at the Salisbury Training Academy to support military service leavers transitioning into civilian careers. Through an engaging presentation and meaningful conversations with attendees, including a future veteran-owned welding business, CRL helped promote employability, skills transfer and potential subcontracting opportunities, reinforcing its commitment to supporting veterans and creating long-term social value.
Garden & Recreational Area Restoration
Since 1962, Birmingham Mind has dedicated to supporting individuals with mental health needs, helping them build on their strengths and regain control of their lives.
CRL, in partnership with National Highways and its supply chain, supported a community initiative at the Beechcroft Hub in Erdington, operated by Birmingham Mind. The hub, located near the M6 Gravelly Hill Box Beams project, provides vital wellbeing support for individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
Volunteers from the Highways team delivered improvements to the outdoor spaces, including new turf and paving, as well as the construction of planters, bird boxes, tables, and benches. A raised area was also created to provide a dedicated space for rest and relaxation.
These enhancements have created a more accessible and welcoming environment, supporting user wellbeing. The initiative demonstrates CRL’s commitment to delivering social value and positively contributing to local communities.
CRL Inspires Future Talent at Woodrush High School Career Fair
Concrete Repairs Limited (CRL) proudly took part in the Woodrush High School Career Fair in Birmingham, engaging with students and showcasing the wide range of career opportunities within the construction and infrastructure maintenance industry.
Woodrush is a thriving secondary school committed to building supportive, professional relationships between students, staff, parents, carers and the community they serve, to ensure all our their young people receive the excellent education they deserve.
CRL Inspires Future Talent at Woodrush High School Career Fair
CRL Improves School Playground
CRL supports Whetstone Field Primary School
A team from CRL's Highways Division recently improved a local school’s playground in Walsall, enhancing safety and enjoyment for children. Over two visits, they resurfaced hazardous areas, repaired structures, and repainted facilities.
The project, which involved 12 CRL staff and supply chain partners, strengthened community ties and received positive feedback from the school.
Hawthorn Court Care Home
CRL Bristol support Hawthorn Court Extra Care Home
CRL Bristol recently dedicated three days to working in the communal gardens of Hawthorn Court Extra Care Home in Keynsham.
Hawthorn Court Care Home offers extra care housing for older adults with care needs, providing comfortable, self-contained flats with assured tenancies in a purpose-built or adapted setting. If you need a bit of help with personal care and daily activities and your current housing isn’t quite right, Extra Care Housing could be the perfect fit for you.
CRL Bristol recently dedicated three days to working in the communal gardens of Hawthorn Court Extra Care Home in Keynsham.
The large garden, bordered on three sides by residents' flats and a communal dining room, had become very neglected and untidy over the past couple of years.
Kyle of Tongue Bridge
When practical challenges forced a change in approach to speed up completion, the opportunity to engage and support the community arose.
In order to negotiate a short, full road closure (initially disallowed in the contract) to speed up project completion in a bid to avoid the bad autumnal weather, CRL worked with the Highland Council and the local Community Council to find a suitable solution for all parties.
The result of collaborative meetings led to the provision of services and benefits including reports and surveys for a local jetty and football pitch, pedestrian bus service, 24-hour vehicle recovery service for the diversion route, repairs to potholes and verges along the diversion route.
Salop Drive Market Garden (Oldbury) – Phase 1
Ideal for All is a user-led registered charity and social enterprise working to make life better for disabled, elderly and vulnerable people and their carers.
They have supported more than 23,000 individuals since they were established in 1996 with information, guidance, and access to a range of independent living activities, direct payment services, employability programmes, health and wellbeing projects, and peer support groups.
To learn more about the organisation, click here.
The market garden area at the centre had become overgrown and dilapidated during the Pandemic Lockdowns, and the team lack the resources to bring this back to its former glory and to a state where it might again be self-funding.
CRL stepped in and offered to carry out the works required to make the garden fully functional again.
Triumph in Yorkshire's 3 Peaks Challenge
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and we need your help to find a cure. Their Mission is to discover treatments and a cure for ALS, and to serve, advocate for, and empower people affected by ALS to live their lives to the fullest. Learn more about the ALS Association here.
Mark Donkin and Carl Naylor successfully completed the Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge last Sunday to raise funds for Donna in her fight against ALS (a progressive neurodegenerative terminal disease). The monies raised will be used to fund Donna's ongoing treatment and trials and ensure that with the best care possible she will be able to create some lasting memories with her family and friends.
Mud Kitchen for Speedwell Infant School
Mud Kitchen for Speedwell Infant School
Christmas Hampers that Support the Homeless
This Christmas, CRL teamed up with EthStat Ethical Stationary CIC to support their Christmas Hamper project helping local homeless people back into employment and back on track.
EthStat employ local homeless individuals to pack their hampers, offering them employment, an opportunity to build their skills and experience, and a route off the streets. Learn more about EthStat here.
We purchased 24 hampers (which included items such as chocolate, socks and soap) and asked EthStat to donate them to local charities (such as Evolve Housing & Support and Nightwatch Croydon) to give those on the streets some goodies this Christmas.
National Highways YNE Christmas Food Collection
CRL organised the National Highways Yorkshire and North East Community Christmas food collection for the Trussell Trust.
Community members joined forces to respond to the Trussell Trust’s first ever emergency food appeal which occurred as demand soared due to the cost-of-living crisis. Learn more about the Trussell Trust here.
Food was collected in offices and sites across the region and split between food banks in Barnsley and Middlesborough. Collectively, sixteen YNE Community members collected the equivalent of 714 meals for Barnsley and 236.75kg of food for Middlesbrough!
CRL Bristol Support Paul's Place
CRL staff spend two days meeting volunteers and sprucing up the garden at Paul's Place in Bristol.
“Thank you so much for all the incredible work you and your team completed last week, and for your generous donation of resources. The garden looks amazing, and it has made such a huge difference. Thank you so much again.”
Paul’s Place is a charity that enhances life for physical, cognitive, and sensory impaired disabled adults. It was a pleasure to be able support such a fantastic charity. Read more about Paul's Place here.
Across the two days, CRL painted fences, trimmed hedges, cleared weeds & leaves, and layed weed-suppressant membrane topped with bark. In addition to meeting some of the wonderful volunteer helpers and clients who will now be able to enjoy their new garden.
Supporting Vale View Day Care Centre
CRL teamed up with Kier to improve the garden areas for service users and staff at Vale View Day Care Centre in Lancaster.
Vale View Day Care Centre offer a safe space, hot meals and activities to adults in the community with learning disabilities. They do brilliant work and CRL are proud to have been able to help in a small way.
Five CRL colleagues spent the day at the Centre helping to repair and paint three raised flower-beds, paint a wooden arbor, repair a dislodged manhole cover and provide general garden maintenance in addition to donating materials.
CRL Renew Erdington United FC Sponsorship
CRL Renew Erdington United FC Sponsorship for a second season
The club, formed in 2014, are a FA charter standard club and have been acknowledged as a Kick It Out ambassador club. The grassroots, community-focussed club, is looking to expand and start youth and women’s teams and CRL and proud to support such an ambitious club.
EUFC compete in the Sutton & District Division 1. Last season, they won the Festival League Division 2 title and reached the Gordon Bagnall Cup final (with a crowd of over 700). We wish them continued success in the upcoming season in their new league!
BWPL 35/60 Anniversary
Sponsoring the British Water Polo League's 35/70 year celebrations at Hampstead Heath!
The British Water Polo League (BWPL) promotes British men's and women's water polo. 2022 marks 35 years of women's competition and 70 years of men's competition in Britain.
CRL are proud to have sponsored the British Water Polo League’s (BWPL) 35/60 event on 9th July.
A huge congratulations are in order for the BWPL and their longevity and commitment to British Water Polo. All at CRL wish them continued success in the future!
Enhancing the Pod's Outdoor Space
Six CRL colleagues spend two days on the Flower Pod site, completing multiple projects and meeting the wonderful clients and volunteers.
Flower Pod are a social enterprise in Southwell who offer people with learning disabilities the opportunity to enrich their lives through horticulture and associated activities. They are part of Reach Learning Disability, a charity that provides day services and care support for people with learning disabilities across Nottinghamshire.
“Heroes! Absolutely brilliant work by some of the chaps from Concrete Repairs Limited - CRL who have spent 2 days making a difference at Flower Pod Southwell. THANK YOU. Really big thank you!”
Launch of the Access to Swim Programme
which offers a free 10-week swimming course and swimming kit to disadvantaged children and children in care.
As part of our work on Dunes Splash World, we worked with Sefton Council to develop the programme.
"A massive thank you to CRL and their suppliers" - Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing.
CRL, alongside our suppliers - Mapei, AMB Technical Ltd, VI Distribution, Industrial Coating Services, QED Scaffolding and Prema Energy Ltd - were able to fund the programme.
Charity Football Match - £1740 raised!
CRL Chesterfield took on Fortem in an 11-a-side charity football match at Stavelely Miners Welfare Club to raise £1740 for Mind and CRASH.
Although CRL were closely beaten in a 16-goal thriller by a good Fortem side, there was much to be proud of for CRL who put in a solid performance and helped raise money for two fantastic charities. Final donations and sponsorships are still coming in so watch this space for the total amount raised.
A huge thank to all the players represented CRL and generously made donations and collected sponsorships. Without them, this would not have been possible.
Thank you to VI Distribution for donating football shirts and to Fortem for helping to putting on a great day and their fundraising efforts. We will have to get some practice in before the rematch!
'Small World' Play Area
CRL Bristol recently undertook a 3-day project to clean and repair the 'Small World' play area at Chandag Infants School in Keynsham.
After consulting with the school, the 'Small World' area is now an exciting area for children to explore and play. It is natural and mountainous landscape, with a volaano at the centre. It features areas of sand, varying stones, fossil and fern imprints, dinosaur footprints, roads and tunnels.
The school were delighted with the finished result: ‘It looks fantastic and the staff are really pleased with the area’. We were invited to attend a special assembly to reveal the repaired play area to the children and we presented them with toy cars and diggers.
Heeley People's Park
CRL recently made repairs and re-bedded loose copings on two stone walls at Heeley People’s Park in Sheffield, securing the walls and making them safer for park users.
Heeley People’s Park is the largest community run park in the country, with six different sites and a wide range of spaces, activities, plants, and wildlife. We are proud to support the park which is an important amenity for the surrounding community.
“Firstly I wanted to say a huge thank you to you and your team on behalf of Heeley Trust and Heeley People’s Park. The work that has been completed is of the highest calibre and has made such a difference to the landscape.”
Coast to Coast Cycle Ride
Marie Curie Coast to Coast Cycle Ride
Marie Curie Coast to Coast Cycle Ride
Marie Curie is a registered charitable organisation in the United Kingdom which provides care and support to people with terminal illnesses and their families.
In 2017 Michael Balletta (one of our Infrastructure Managers) decided to cycle from Morecombe Bay to Bridlington to raise money for Marie Curie ...
10 Years of Support for CRASH
CRASH - The UK Construction Industry Charity
CRASH - The UK Construction Industry Charity
CRASH is the construction industry’s charity that helps homelessness and hospice organisations with their construction projects – creating places that care for people when they’re at their most vulnerable.
We are proud supporters of CRASH and the fantstic work they do to support the homeless and hospices. We have been supporting CRASH for over 10 years through donations made via fundraising and events.
The Lighthouse Club Fundraising Event
The construction industry health and wellbeing charity
The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is the only charity that provides emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to construction workers and their families. We receive no public funding and rely on the generosity of those within in the industry to help us continue our vital work.
CRL, alongside Kier Highways, raised £1400 for The Lighthouse Club through a charity raffle and barbeque at our P25 Gravelly Hill site. The event was supported by CRL and Kier site workforce, staff and our supply chain partners.
Bowling Night in aid of Stockdales Charity
Thank you so much for coming to our charity bowling night, we hope you enjoyed it. The evening raised a fantasti c £572 for Stockdales! This is just brilliant, thank you. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Sarah Maunder | Fundraising Manager | Stockdales
Stockdales is a local charity with a wealth of experience in making a difference to children, young people and adults with learning disabilities. We help people of all abilities to live life to the full.
Click HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT STOCKDALES AND THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO
On a very wet Wednesday evening in Altrincham, a crack team of strike bowlers arrived at the Atlantic Bowl to do battle with seven other teams (& help raise money for a very worthy cause!)!
As part of our new Social Value Strategy, CRL is continually exploring new ways to work with and support our communities. One of our latest initiatives is to partner each of our offices (and corresponding regions) with a local charity or community organisation chosen by our employees. Through this initiative, we plan to offer long-term and tailored support to our local communities.
As a company, we look to enhance the surrounding community, whether that be using waste spoil to create public footpaths or a Wendy house for the local hospital we were repairing.
In addition, we support our local communities by providing education and employment opportunities. Whether that is by taking on staff locally wherever possible, engaging with schools, colleges and universities to help future generations enter the industry, or offering opportunities to disadvantaged and under-represented groups (see examples above).
Our engineers are encouraged to become STEM Ambassadors and get involved in visiting schools and colleges to encourage young people to join the construction industry. An example of this is our Bridge Building competition which we organise and run for students in Years 9-11 (see details at top of page).
Our Chairman Tony Rimoldi has acted as a mentor for London students, winning mentor of the year for City University.
