Cambridge businesses championing community action

Phoenix is both a charity and a social enterprise, making a wide variety of products on site to sell to the public, from concrete paving slabs, garden ornaments, arbors and mud kitchens, to bird boxes, planters, trellises in all shapes and sizes.

When Neil Cook, Group Director at COEL (local design and fit-out company) and long-time volunteer and trustee at Phoenix, learnt that Martin Mace from Supplant (a plant tech company based at Cambridge Science Park) one of COEL’s clients, no longer needed two storage cabins, he looked to find a way to put them to good use. Neil knew that the Phoenix required storage to keep their materials and products, secure, dry and protected – the cabins were the perfect solution. With Martin kindly agreeing to donate the cabins to the Phoenix Trust, Welch’s Specialist Movements generously agreed to deliver them, with one of their HGV drivers making the pick-up and drop off, not once but twice.

The delivery provided an exciting spectacle for the Phoenix Trust team as the cabins were craned into position.

Neil Cook, from COEL commented:

“I would like to thank Martin Mace from Supplant and the team at Welch’s Specialist Movements for their proactive and invaluable contribution to the process, without which none of this would have been possible. The Phoenix Trust is a charity close to the heart of COEL and we are very happy to have been able to reach out to the Cambridge business community to help the Phoenix Trust in their sterling work.”

Martin Mace, from Supplant said:

“Donating the storage cabins to such a fantastic organisation was my pleasure, and I look forward to seeing them in their new home. I hope the Phoenix Trust can now keep their supplies secure and sheltered from the worst of the British weather.”

Julie Payne at Welch’s Specialist Movements said:

“Welch’s Specialist Movements is one several businesses belonging to The Welch Group a company proud to be founded on ‘family values.’ This is reflected in our ethos to the local community, and so when we were approached regarding the delivery of the cabins to The Phoenix Trust, we did all we could to help. We are delighted to have been able to help the charity, enabling them in their incredible work.”

Jude Tustian at The Phoenix Trust said:

“We are very grateful to all those involved in this donation – a true team effort, from COEL, Supplant and The Welch Group – thank you one and all  – and yes, do come and see them in situ! ”