Social Value Summary Updates 2024
Social Value Summary Updates 2024
Look Ahead
Domestic Violence Support Centre and Office
AD redecorated the office, reception, WC and communal spaces used by the Domestic Violence Advisors who support the local community; to create a brighter cleaner more functional environment for the staff and service users of the facility.
Learning and Disability Service Project
Read all about the great work taking place to help those with complex needs live more independently.
https://www.lookahead.org.uk/gravesend-learning-disability-service-a-story-of-partnership/
Secret Santa Appeal
Read all about the wonderful Christmas parties and events that took place funded by LA’s corporate partners - raising over £17,000 - of which every pound received went to the children, families, and adults in their services.
https://www.lookahead.org.uk/blog-posts/secret-santa-campaign-makes-christmas-brighter-for-look-ahead-customers/
Education
Days Lane School – Sensory Room
AD and FFT assisted Days Lane School with the creation of a sensory room for their students. AD’s team which included Eamon McGuire (Multi-trader) and Owen Baker attended site for 4 days during the Easter Holidays to bring an old storage area into use as a brand new sensory room. AD arranged and paid for the electrical upgrades required, then team AD set about repairing and redecorating the room ready for the sensory furniture and fittings which had been generously provided by FFT to be installed in place ready for the students return to school after the holidays.
From storage space to sensory room.
‘’I just wanted to send a quick note this morning to thank you and your operatives for being involved in the social value project at Days Lane…the school are thrilled and can’t wait to share the space with the children.”
Social Mobility and Employment Opportunity
Bexley Apprenticeship Event - 2x staff – 7 hours total attendance – over 50+ students directly advised about apprenticeship roles within the local area and industry.
Mentoring Circles - Steve Doyle – CEO – delivered 3x 2 hour ‘Mentoring Circles’ sessions for Dartford Job Centre. 12 candidates seeking employment were mentored by Steve during these sessions.
Apprenticeship Week - AD’s Head of HR attended Dartford Job Centre to speak with 12 apprenticeship candidates [as part of our Apprenticeship Week activities] to explain all about apprenticeships, answer questions and discuss the application processes for interested attendees.
NEETS (and over 25s) Recruitment Event - YMCA Dartford – Recruitment Fair and Speed Interviews – over 40 + long term unemployed / returners to the workforce / supported residents were interviewed and advised about employment opportunities at AD and offered fast track interviews for roles they were interested in applying for.
Supported Residents Recruitment - Hired a Shaw Trust service user referral into full time employment - Shaw Trust is a charity helping to transform the lives of young people and adults across the UK and internationally. Their specialist services help people gain an education, enter work, develop their career, improve their wellbeing or rebuild their lives.
Central and Cecil
Colville Court
AD provided and fitted brand new carpeting for the community lounge for the residents at Colville Court.
Hyde
Good Neighbours Community Christmas Event
AD provided 7 volunteers and a chemical toilet for the Good Neighbours Christmas Event on Sunday 17th December.
“Words cannot describe how amazing you all were. Thank you once again AD team, absolutely knocked it out of the park”
Total Volunteer Hours: 38
Help families without cooking facilities make toast
“We are over the moon; the toasters have arrived, and we can start to give them out to families with nothing. We are delighted with the speed you turned this offer into a delivery. It was a real pleasure to work with AD Construction Group”
Petworth Community Garden - Sponsor a Plot
Nick’s Story: Nick is a long-term unemployed resident in his late 40s who lives with his elderly uncle. He is clinically overweight, suffers from depression and anxiety, had very low confidence and had very low energy and motivation, and little prospect of employment.
Nick was unmotivated in life when he first came to the gardening project and never saw anyone other than his elderly uncle. However, he has made many friends in since attending, and really enjoys each session. He enjoys helping other people and is very good with all the participants, showing a real development in social and caring skills and participation.
“Since I've been coming here, I've been sleeping better each night. I enjoy coming and working at the garden and it's given me more structure and activity, a better routine. It makes me feel I can really achieve something more.”
Charlie’s Story: Charlie recently dropped out of Chichester College due to family problems at home. His dad had a stroke which left him with extremely limited mobility. His mum struggled to cope, and Charlie felt responsible for his family at the age of just 17.
Charlie joined the gardening project in 2018, feeling lost and without direction. His confidence was low, and he didn’t really see anyone apart from his family.
However, being involved with the community garden gave Charlie purpose, and he enjoyed meeting new people and working with them to grow produce and help with gardening tasks. This gave him new-found confidence, and he has now secured a full-time customer services job.
Educational Visit – My Professional Self Programme
10 expert volunteer hours.
AD were invited to support the University of Portsmouth’s ‘My Professional Self Programme’ delivered to Year 9 students as part of their outreach programme. Aims were to increase young people’s self-awareness, confidence and ability to positively present themselves in situations such as college or university applications and future job interviews.
Out of the 38:
- 4 were in receipt of free school meals
- 4 had a declared disability
- 2 were looked after by local authority care
- 33 live in POLAR quintiles 1&2, meaning they live in areas of the lowest higher education participation rates
- 100% of the students said they would recommend to other young people
- Majority referenced these skills being referenced in job interviews in the future
"The thing I found most useful was pushing my comfort zone and being able to talk to new people"
"I like that I had the opportunity to speak out loud about my skills and qualities“
Southern Housing
Donated Hampers and Gifts for a Raffle
SH sheltered scheme for residents over 55+ “Getting To Know You (GTKY)”.
Raising a large sum for breast cancer awareness and providing some exciting gifts for the scheme residents to win.
Charitable Support and Activities
ellenor Hospice – London Marathon - a member of AD staff completed the London Marathon with an outstanding time of 3.41 and raised over £3,600 - contributing to the total raised by ellenor runners which is currently almost £21,000. An amazing achievement and a huge contribution to the vital funds raised that help ellenor support our local community.
ellenor Hospice - Hyde Park 10K in September – A huge team of AD staff will be taking part in the Hyde Park 10k as part of our charitable partner support activities and well being programmes. Please sponsor our teams if you can to help make a difference for this amazing charity which supports local communities in their time of need. https://www.justgiving.com/page/ad-construction-group-chosen-charity-2023-ellenor
Look Ahead – The London Homeless Collective – London Walk - A team from AD took part with Look Ahead Care and Support in The London Walk - in support of The London Homeless Collective. https://londonhomelesscollective.org/#fundedprojects and raised £600 for this important charity.
World Child Cancer - Ambassadors Summer Quiz – AD are annual sponsors of the WCC and their fundraising events - 37 teams took part in the quiz in May and AD came a respectable 27th. Congratulations to the team from Pilon for winning the prestigious Ambassadors Cup and Pinnacle Group who won the Wooden Spoon Trophy. The event raised over £25,000 for children living with cancer.
Swanley Community Food Hub Support (At Elim Church)
AD made a £1,000 donation for them to purchase food supplies and held an office food drive for staff to donate items for distribution. Over 100 food parcels (which feed a family of 4) are provided free of charge each week; therefore providing nourishment for over 1,600 people per month.
