This year, CRASH’s Christmas Giftbag campaign brought together an incredible 12 Corporate Patrons, two Charity Partners and one CRASH Supporter, who generously donated essential items to homelessness charities supported by CRASH across the UK. By pairing companies with charities in their local areas, the campaign enabled staff to get directly involved in assembling the giftbags. The initiative resulted in thousands of giftbags being distributed to people experiencing homelessness this winter, with Corporate Patrons and Supporters playing a hands-on role in making a tangible difference.

The initiative supported charities across the UK, from Glasgow (Emmaus Glasgow) to Exeter (St Petrock’s), where Corporate Patron Taylor Wimpey donated over 3,000 giftbags. Each bag was thoughtfully filled with essential items, including winter warmers such as gloves, scarves and hats, while other Corporate Patrons contributed giftbags containing toiletries, water bottles and a range of other practical necessities. Altogether, the initiative resulted in more than £68,000 worth of gifts in kind being donated – providing vital support to these charities and helping them continue their invaluable work supporting people experiencing homelessness in their communities.

We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated Corporate Patrons, Charity Partners and Supporters for their generosity and kindness this festive season, collectively supporting an incredible 32 homelessness charities across the UK. Their commitment has helped deliver essential items, comfort and hope to people experiencing homelessness at a time when it is needed most.

A heartfelt thank you to ACO Technologies, AECOM, Areen Design, Beale & Co, Bellrock, Dulux Decorator Centre, Geberit, Genuit Group, Huws Gray, Locktons, Make, MiTek, Saint Gobain, Taylor Wimpey and VolkerFitzpatrick.

A special mention goes to Corporate Patron Taylor Wimpey, whose outstanding support reached an incredible 14 homelessness charities supported by CRASH across the UK. We would also like to recognise Beale & Co, Huws Gray and Bellrock for their generosity in donating to multiple charities, extending their impact to even more communities across the country.

Thank You to Our Corporate Patrons and Project Supporters

Instead of featuring a single Corporate Patron of the Month for December, we’re taking this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to all the amazing Corporate Patrons and Supporters who have been involved with CRASH projects this year.

At CRASH, we know that buildings matter most when people are at their most vulnerable. This year, thanks to the generosity and expertise of the industry, we’ve helped homelessness charities and hospices create spaces that offer safety, dignity, and care.

From January 1st, 2025, these amazing companies have stepped forward to share their skills, products, and time to make a real difference.

Our Corporate Patrons

Thank you, Young Professionals in Construction (YPiC)!

A huge thank you to Young Professionals in Construction (YPiC) for hosting a fantastic Christmas Quiz Night in aid of CRASH on Wednesday 3rd December at the Dentons London office. With over 100 young people from across the construction industry in attendance, the evening was full of festive fun, friendly competition and generous support.

We were proud to be there on the night and honoured to be the beneficiary charity for the event. The Christmas theme ran throughout, with special seasonal rounds and questions keeping everyone in the festive spirit. One of the highlights was the creative challenge to construct a Christmas tree using very limited materials – with some truly outstanding efforts on display and bonus points up for grabs!

Congratulations to the team from Dentons, who took home the overall win – supported by a little help from CRASH’s very own Corporate Partnerships Manager Mike Allen!

The event raised an incredible £1,205 and featured some fantastic prizes generously donated for the occasion.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone at YPiC for their ongoing support, with special mentions to Millie Leonard for organising such a brilliant event, James Sholl for being an excellent quizmaster and host, and Ruth Marsden for her continued commitment to CRASH.

Your enthusiasm, creativity, and generosity help us continue our vital work – and we are incredibly grateful.

CRASH was delighted to be the Charity Partner once again at the 25th anniversary of the Construction Marketing Awards (CMA), an evening dedicated to celebrating the creativity, innovation, and impact of marketing teams across the built environment sector. Hosted in London, this milestone event brought together hundreds of industry professionals to honour outstanding campaigns, exceptional strategy, and the people moving our sector forward. As the chosen charity partner, CRASH was proud to share the room with so many supporters who champion collaboration and social value across construction.

Thanks to the kindness and enthusiasm of guests on the night, a fantastic £1000 was raised to support CRASH’s work with homelessness charities and hospices. These donations help CRASH provide professional expertise, products, and funding to vital construction projects—creating safe, dignified spaces for people when they need them most. We are truly grateful to everyone who contributed.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the CMA Lifetime Achievement Award to Ross Sturley, warmly awarded by Paul Finch of the World Architecture Festival. Ross’s long-standing commitment to elevating marketing across the built environment has shaped the sector and inspired countless professionals. This recognition was exceptionally well-deserved, and CRASH extends its heartfelt congratulations.

We would also like to thank the fantastic volunteers from Corporate Patron Beale & Co; thank you to Cody Reeves, Sevir Mandair, Nicholas Kenny and Matt Davies, who generously gave their time to support the charity collection on the night.

We also extend our appreciation to the CMA team for their continued partnership over the past 23 years and for inviting CRASH to be part of this landmark celebration once again. Their support helps ensure our industry can come together to recognise excellence while also making a meaningful difference to people experiencing homelessness or receiving end-of-life care.

The Construction Marketing Awards continue to demonstrate the power of collaboration within our sector. CRASH is proud to stand alongside organisations and individuals who are committed not only to driving innovation in construction marketing but also to giving back.

Here’s to another year of working together to build places that care for people.

CRASH is delighted to name Taylor Wimpey as our Corporate Patron of the Month for November, in recognition of their exceptional and widespread support for CRASH and the homelessness and hospice charities we help.

Taylor Wimpey has recently supported a CRASH project for Kenward Trust, a charity that supports people on their journey to recovery from addiction and homelessness. Taylor Wimpey generously covered the construction materials for all seven bathroom spaces, including sanitaryware, tiles, and flooring. Their exceptional support also extended to the labour costs, with Simcott, a contractor chosen by Taylor Wimpey, bringing the vision to life.

Taylor Wimpey’s commitment to supporting people in need also extends right across the UK. Their support with CRASH’s annual Christmas Gift Bag initiative sees offices from across the country supporting local homelessness charities by providing essential items. In 2024, Taylor Wimpey supported homelessness charities across their 22 business units with a total of 3,158 gift bags worth an incredible £63,160, bringing comfort and dignity to people experiencing homelessness.

On 19th November, CRASH was delighted to attend the grand opening of the newly completed bathrooms at Kenward Trust alongside Vicky Stipetic, Helen Crown and Jo Whiffen from Taylor Wimpey, who has spearheaded this project and ensured its successful delivery. You can read the full Kenward Trust story here.

We are thrilled to welcome Keltbray as a Corporate Patron of CRASH.

Keltbray is a leading UK specialist contractor and civil engineering services group, committed to engineering a better world by redefining sustainable development delivery. As a key player in developing and maintaining Britain’s built environment and major civil engineering, Keltbray operates across highly regulated sectors, transforming sites across the UK.

Founded in 1976, Keltbray prides itself on its experienced and multi-disciplined teams, and its commitment to delivering high quality solutions safely, on time, and within budget. With its in-house resources, specialist plant, and skilled workforce, Keltbray delivers both standalone services and fully integrated solutions.

Their support of CRASH’s projects will be invaluable, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work collaboratively.

Keltbray is already getting involved with CRASH projects. Jamie Parkes, Head of Social Impact at Keltbray, recently visited Isabel Hospice with the CRASH team, alongside fellow Corporate Patron ACO. During the visit, CRASH confirmed that we will be supporting this new project, marking the beginning of Keltbray’s hands-on involvement in helping deliver essential places of care.

CRASH was delighted to once again be the chosen charity partner at the CPA Autumn Lunch, a flagship event recognised as one of the most important networking occasions in the construction industry. The lunch attracts a senior audience from across the construction supply chain including manufacturers and suppliers, clients, contractors, and influential political and media contacts – offering a unique opportunity for connection and collaboration.

This year marks 23 years of partnership between the Construction Products Association and CRASH, and the continued generosity of attendees was evident throughout the afternoon. Together, guests helped raise an amazing £6,846 to support CRASH’s work assisting homelessness charities and hospices across the UK.

The event began with a warm welcome and opening remarks from Jeff May, Deputy Chief Executive of the Construction Products Association, who reflected on the issues and opportunities shaping the construction landscape today. CRASH Chief Executive Trisha Pickersgill addressed the audience, sharing moving updates from recent charity projects and introducing a short video showcasing CRASH’s support for homelessness charity Branches. The clip highlighted the creation of Stepping Stones, a vital ‘move-on’ house designed to help residents transition from hostel accommodation into independent living – demonstrating the powerful, practical impact that industry support enables.

Guests enjoyed a seasonal three-course meal accompanied by live music, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for networking and conversation. Attendees were also inspired by guest speaker Colin Jackson CBE, whose engaging storytelling and reflections on his sporting career offered insight, humour, and motivation.

The charity draw saw guests generously donate for the chance to win an excellent selection of prizes: a £150 Fortmason Hamper, a £150 John Lewis voucher, a £100 Amazon voucher, a £100 Evolv Collection restaurant voucher, and a Makita two-piece combo kit – all kindly sponsored by Saint-Gobain, Heidelberg Materials, the CFA, 8build, the CPA and NMBS. Thanks to this kindness, the total raised will enable CRASH to continue creating safe, dignified places for people who are homeless, and for children and adults receiving hospice care.

CRASH extends heartfelt thanks to the dedicated volunteers from Corporate Patrons Arcadis and Beale & Co, whose support was invaluable in collecting donations throughout the afternoon. Our gratitude goes to Amy Pargeter, Paul Needler, Dharyl Ramos, Jagoda Krukar, Charlie Torres and Pietro Fiorucci from Arcadis, and to Cody Reeves and Sevir Mandair from Beale & Co, whose enthusiasm and commitment helped make the event a great success.

Finally, we offer our sincere appreciation to the Construction Products Association for once again inviting CRASH to this valued industry event, and to this year’s event sponsors for their continued commitment to helping make a lasting difference.

On 6 November, the external wall insulation (EWI) industry came together for the 44th INCA Awards at the Queens Hotel in Leeds. This black tie evening of celebration brought together INCA members, system designers, installers, and industry partners to honour outstanding achievements across projects, innovation, and individuals.

As CRASH’s long-standing charity partner, INCA once again committed to raising funds for our work. and we are deeply grateful to report that the evening’s charity raffle and collection raised just over £2,100 to support CRASH’s mission.

CRASH exists to deliver meaningful social impact to communities across the UK by helping homelessness charities and hospices with vital construction projects. The support from INCA and its members helps us channel the construction industry’s expertise, products and generosity into meaningful social impact.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, donated, bought raffle tickets, and helped make this evening a success. In particular, we would like to give special thanks to Jane Wiltshire and John Sparrow for their outstanding organisation of the event, your efforts ensured a wonderful evening.

Congratulations also to all the INCA Awards winners; your excellence in EWI is an inspiration, and we’re proud to partner with you in building a more caring society.

On Thursday 6 November, professionals from across the digital construction and technology sectors gathered at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City for the Construction Computing Awards 2025, an evening dedicated to celebrating excellence, innovation, and collaboration across the industry.

Now in its nineteenth year, the awards, fondly known as The Hammers – recognise the people, products and projects driving digital transformation in construction. Guests enjoyed a lively evening of networking, entertainment and celebration, as the winners were revealed following a combination of readers’ online votes and the judging panel’s deliberations.

As the charity partner for the evening, CRASH Chief Executive Trisha Pickersgill took to the stage to share how the construction industry’s support enables CRASH to continue helping people who are homeless, and children and adults receiving hospice care, by creating places that care for people in the long term.

Thanks to the generosity of everyone in attendance, over £2,000 was raised to support CRASH’s vital work. These funds will go directly towards construction projects that provide dignity, comfort and safety for the people and communities who need it most.

Guests also enjoyed a Champagne reception, a fabulous three-course dinner and an incredible magic performance by Nick Einhorn before the awards ceremony began.

CRASH would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the organisers of the Construction Computing Awards, and to everyone who donated, supported and celebrated with us on the night. Your kindness helps CRASH continue to build a more caring world, brick by brick.

A special thank you also goes to volunteers Matthew Davies and Nicholas Kenny from Beale & Co, who kindly assisted the CRASH team with the evening’s charity collection, your help was invaluable and greatly appreciated.

We would also like to share our warmest congratulations to our Corporate Patrons RedSky, winners of ERP Software of the Year 2025, and Hilti, winners of Construction Management Software of the Year 2025. We’re so proud to see our Corporate Patrons recognised for their excellence and innovation in the industry.

On Saturday 25th October, independent builders’ merchants and suppliers came together for a night of celebration at the annual NMBS Dinner Dance, held once again in the prestigious Great Room at the Grosvenor House, London.

This year’s event was especially poignant, marking the final Dinner Dance hosted by NMBS’s long-standing CEO, Chris Hayward, who will be stepping down in April 2026 following an incredible 47-year career at NMBS.

Guests were welcomed with a drinks reception before being called to dinner. The evening featured a delicious three-course meal, with chocolates kindly sponsored by Corporate Patron Heidelberg Materials, and Corporate Patron British Gypsum once again showed their support as one of the event’s gift sponsors.

Later in the evening, Chris was joined on stage by Kevin Williams, his successor as CEO. Kevin thanked Chris for his leadership and guidance during the transition, saying:

“Chris’s generosity with his time, his wisdom, and his friendship has made this transition a pleasure. The strength of this organisation, the team he has built, the respect he carries across our industry, and the legacy he leaves behind are a testament to his leadership.”

Kevin also encouraged guests to give generously, as funds were raised for both CRASH and our vital work with homelessness charities and hospices, and the Maddie Rose Foundation, which continues to help young people build careers in merchanting. Guests donated an incredible £8,885 which the NMBS kindly rounded up to £10,000 on the night.

CRASH is extremely grateful for NMBS’s continued partnership and the generous support from across the industry. These donations will go towards creating warm, safe and caring environments for people who are homeless and for children and adults receiving hospice care.

We are so grateful to Patrick Cantellow and Carmen Harris from Corporate Patrons Knauf and AECOM who joined the CRASH team for the evening, and we would not have been able to collect donations without the help of our wonderful volunteers. Thank you to Chris Green, Ian Chadwick, Liz Edwards, Tia Butler, Ross Stewart from Corporate Patron ACO Technologies and their partners who joined them on the evening. Thank you also to Steve and Rachel Durdant-Hollamby from the Maddie Rose Foundation. We are so grateful for this support collecting vital donations, which will go towards creating places that care for people when they are at their most vulnerable and helping young people build careers in merchanting.

The evening concluded with a heartfelt standing ovation for Chris, marking the end of an era and celebrating his remarkable contribution to NMBS and the wider industry.