CAR PARK ATTRACTS GRAFFITI
Parking company Vinci Park supports a number of local community projects. As part of the worldwide Vinci Group, the company adheres to the principles of the Vinci Foundation, which aims to foster greater social cohesion by supporting projects that help socially excluded people gain employment. In Hull, where Vinci Park provides parking enforcement on behalf of the City Council, it has also become involved in a project with Hull FC Rugby Club to launch a Young Leadership programme. Vinci Park has provided
Hull Rugby Club
£23,000 funding towards the scheme, which provides teenagers with an opportunity to discover their full potential through their involvement as leaders in sport. Participants in the scheme will be able to experience training with a professional rugby team, and not only will they attain Level 1 and Level 2 sport coaching badges, but they will also build confidence, increase motivation and develop work-related skills. At the end of each year, the teenagers involved will attain a Young Leader Award and have access to further education for qualifications such as a BTEC in sport. Whether they choose to enter the workforce or continue their education, possibly in sports science, successful graduates will have gained valuable experience, as well as a valid and useful qualification. To attract participants to the scheme, Hull FC Rugby Club has established links with the local School Sports
We believe we should take care of those who put themselves in danger to protect us
PARKING’S
OWN DRAGONS It has become a tradition for staff from Excel Parking to descend upon Rother Valley Country Park for the annual Weston Park Charity Dragon Boat race, an event that raised over £15,000 for Weston Park Cancer Hospital.
Improving on last year, the team finished in a very respectable seventh place, missing out on qualifying for the semi-finals by a second.
Speaking on the day, team captain Simon Renshaw-Smith said: ‘I am extremely proud of everyone who got involved. Everyone’s had a great day and it’s wonderful to see all the Excel staff coming together to support such a fantastic cause. We’ll be back again next year, better than ever!’
West India Quay
Partnerships (SSP). It is anticipated that, each year, between 60 and 70 local teenagers will be placed in the programme. Vinci Park chief executive Mark Evans, commented: ‘As a local employer, we are always keen to develop strong and long-lasting relationships within the communities in which we work. We understand that unemployment is an issue in Hull and Vinci Park is committed to addressing this whenever it can through education and access to increased employment opportunities. Investing in and developing young people is important to our business, so it was only natural for us to support this initiative.’ Meanwhile, it has been all action at the multi-storey West
India Quay car park in Canary Wharf, where a fundraising abseil down the side of the car park raised more than £4,000 for Community Link, the east London charity group. As Vinci Park had sponsored the event, every penny raised went directly to tackling poverty in east London. And the car park at the
heart of the financial district has also been the subject of some colourful artwork, as a team of 10 budding artists was encouraged to spray-paint the walls with some exciting graffiti artwork.
The mural project, led by a
local art therapist, was part of the month-long West India Quay summer festival, and a group of 13 to 16-year-olds were given the opportunity to paint their interpretation of summer in the city.
Walking for the wounded Speaking after that first challenge, Anjna
said: ‘Tis was never about supporting the war in Iraq, but we believe we should take care of those who put themselves in danger to protect us.’ Anjna’s son has just decided to join the
Teamwork… Anjna
Patel with members of the armed services
Parasol is a charity that supports servicemen and women injured in Iraq and Afghanistan – and, to date, this small organisation has raised more than £50,000 through a combination of treks, challenges, golf days and even strawberry and cream teas. Te driving force behind the charity is Sandwell parking manager Anjna Patel, who, three years ago, decided she wanted to do something for the troops. Her first challenge was the 106-mile, coast-to-coast walk from Kendal in the Lake District to Whitley Bay on the north-east coast of England.
www.britishparking.co.uk
army and, following completion of his degree course, he will be posted to the Royal Engineers. But Anjna said: ‘Tis was not the reason behind me setting up Parasol – we just wanted to provide help for individuals. Charities like Help for Heroes provides for the bigger projects, but the aims of Parasol are clear – to provide aid and comfort to injured service personnel and their families, when required, with no bureaucracy.’ Newlyn and Alpha Parking sponsored
the golf day, which was held at the start of July, while later in the year a team of parking personnel will be joining Anjna on a walk along Hadrian’s Wall. Te sheer force of Anjna’s personality
means that she is never alone on her challenges – on her first coast-to-coast trek, 18 parking professionals joined her.
AUGUST 2010 31
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