As part of its Community Fund building products manufacturer Forterra has donated £250 to Nottinghamshire based The Helpful Bureau, enabling the charity to provide a two-course hot meal at its weekly Thursday lunchtime club.

The Helpful Bureau aims to help older people in Stapleford and the surrounding areas live safely and independently in their own home. This means different things to different people depending on their circumstances, so the bureau offers support through practical help, social activities, transportation, and befriending services.

Forterra's donation will go towards the provision of food, as well as transport for those who need it, to the Thursday lunchtime club which often caters for up to 50 people with 10 volunteers helping out. After the meal, activities such as a game of bingo, a raffle and a quiz are held to maintain social circles and combat loneliness.

Heather Bessant, Manager at The Helpful Bureau said, “The donation from Forterra will make a big difference to the running of the lunch club and helping older people in the community, some of whom tell us this is the only hot meal of the week they have. They come and socialise and meet their friends and use our transport scheme without which some wouldn't be able to attend.

“We are very grateful to the support we have received and look forward to being able to continue to provide our services to the those in our local community.”

Adam Smith, Commercial Director at Forterra said, “It's fantastic to help The Helpful Bureau deliver hot meals to its members. Forterra is proud to support the important work of charities which provide essential services in the communities they serve.”   

The Forterra Community Fund gives charities, clubs, groups and societies the opportunity to apply for funding or building products to be used in projects that make a positive contribution to their local community.

To apply to the fund, please visit https://www.forterra.co.uk/about-us/community/community-fund/.

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Forterra is a leading UK manufacturer of bricks, blocks, precast concrete, paving and many other vital products and services that enable the development of thriving communities and infrastructure.

For press information contact: Katie Graham or Georgiana Dalliston at Unsworth Sugden on 0116 247 1777 or email Forterra@unsworthsugden.co.uk.