When Devon tyre company Bandvulc looked to mark its 50th anniversary, they remembered the old adage that charity begins at home and decided to use the milestone birthday as an opportunity to say thank you to its local community.
The company, which began retreading around 30 tyres a week in 1971, and is now owned by Continental Tyres, has given away a series of £250 grants to charities and community groups that shared the same Devon postcode – PL21. Tony Mailling, Operations Director says they are delighted to have been able to share their 50-year success with the local community.
“Bandvulc has been in Devon for 50 years and it’s nice to have the opportunity to do this project and to give back to the local community,” says Tony. “We already have a charity team at Bandvulc which meet frequently and hold fundraising events throughout the year to raise money. This year is different because we decided to give 20 good causes £250 each. We’ve had a great response from it, and it’s been really interesting to find out about the different charities and groups from our local area that applied – some we didn’t know anything about.”
Charities and community groups which received the grants range from the Ivybridge Foodbank to crafting groups and a sustainability project which is building up woodlands with more trees and wildflowers, aligned with Bandvulc’s sustainability culture. Julia Bertram who entered the community contribution on behalf of Yealm to Moor comments; “The YEM project is a legacy project. People connect with rivers, woodland and meadows and fresh air and green spaces are feel good motivators. Given funds and a good local story, volunteer recruitment should be easier for our projects and ongoing work – thank you Bandvulc for supporting not only the local community but our environment too.”
Tony adds, “There’s a mum and toddler group, two local primary schools, the Rotary Club and a couple of local sports clubs along with the Ivybridge branch of the Royal British Legion who are going to spend the money on maintaining the local memorial garden in Ivybridge. The original plan was to hand out 20 grants, but two additional groups applied which made deciding difficult so in total 22 groups have received a Bandvulc donation.”
Tony says, “The last couple of years have been incredibly difficult for many people in Devon, and we are thrilled to be able to help in this way. Ivybridge Foodbank told us how tough September is going to be with the furlough scheme ending and people struggling to find jobs. Until you do something like this you don’t know what it means to people. It’s nice for us to be able to have this link with the community.”
Local youth football organisation, Manstow Football Club are pleased to be able to use the contribution to support the development of the club facilities in Ivybridge. Alex Haste comments; “It’s great that Bandvulc have focused this campaign around the local community; the donation will be used to support the building of our clubhouse, which as a growing club, has become more and more important giving our young players much needed facilities and changing rooms”.
Here’s a full list of recipients: Ivybridge Foodbank, The Ivybridge Crafters, Makers Mews, Manstow Youth Football Club, Moorvision, YEM (Yealm to Moor), Ivybridge Rugby Club, Ivybridge and District Community Transport Association, Wavy Rainbow, Rotary Club of Ivybridge, Friends of Erme Primary School, Ivybridge Royal British Legion, Friends of Manor Primary, Sweeney Toddlers, Filham Bike and Skate Track, PL:21 Transition Town Initiative, So Social Ivybridge, Ivybridge Cricket Club, Ivybridge Youth for Christ, Emotional Logic Centre, Beacon Moor Music and Bridge Board Riders.