AND FINALLY


Crown Paints launches community centres campaign


In the lead up to World Mental Health Day on October 10, Crown Paints has listed five community centres for a symbolic £500 million each, featured on property websites and an estate agent’s window, to highlight their true value, and call for urgent investment to stop closures of these vital mental health lifelines.


This comes as a nationwide survey of 2,000 adults revealed that over a third (35%) of Brits say these spaces help them escape loneliness, while 34% say having access to community spaces has a positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing.


The manufacturer warns that unless


the UK unlocks the funding needed for shared spaces soon, libraries, youth clubs and community halls will disappear, along with the communities they foster. Amanda Bolton, a spokesperson for the campaign at Crown Paints said: “When we talk about mental health, we often overlook the walls that quietly hold us up. These are the spaces where real life happens. The toddler groups, the art classes, and those evening drama clubs. Places that offer comfort, connection and community. By listing them as Britain’s Most Valuable Buildings, we’re shining a light on the everyday spaces that hold our communities, and wellbeing, together.”


Alsford raises £10,000 during cycle through France


Alsford Timber, the timber and builders merchant based in South- East England, has raised over £10,000 for charity, completing the


“517 Miles Across Beaune” cycling challenge in September.


The event was organised by Challenge Adventure Charities, who have been delivering purpose-driven cycling events since 1996, to raise money for charities chosen by participants and trustees. To date, CAC has raised over £4.45 million through such challenges.


This year’s ride took the two Alsford teams, the Wheelers and Peddlers, across 517 miles of French countryside, raising money for Cancer Research UK, Demelza Hospice, and the British Heart Foundation.


Managing director, Neil Fuller said: “This challenge embodies so many of our core values. This year our performance was inspiring due to personal fitness improvements by team members, and dedication to pre-race training made by all. The teamwork required to stay on track in tough conditions, whilst having fun and enjoying the pressure, is also vital. Above all, in tough economic circumstances we were able to make a difference and raise over £10,000, which is the ultimate testament to the team’s commitment to making a difference.”


Civils & Lintels receives recognition for fundraising


Civils & Lintels (C&L), part of the Huws Gray Group, has been recognised for its fundraising efforts in support of Mates in Mind, which works in partnership with organisa- tions to build positive mental health in and through work. C&L received the ‘Impact through Funds Raised’ award


at the recent Impact Awards for its dedication to raising vital funds and inspiring others to get involved in the char- ity’s work. Allan Wright, managing director at Civils & Lintels said: “We’ve proudly supported Mates in Mind for several years as the synergies between their work and our team are clear. It is, therefore, an honour to be recognised in this way and I’m grateful to all my C&L colleagues, supply chain partners and customers who’ve made our fundraising efforts so successful.”


November 2025 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


BMJ BRAIN TEASER PRIZE CROSSWORD


>>>


Across 1 Low sculptures rising from a plane surface (7)


5 Pull through (7) 9 Peeping Tom (6) 10 Enduring (4-4) 11 Never use ill-gotten earnings (8)


12 Spokelike (6) 13 Home of Cox’s Bazar beach (10)


15 Arrest (4) 16 Eye problem (4) 18 Some of them are Grimm (5,5)


21 Shaft key (6) 22 Chosen as a career (4,4) 24 Learnt of a mess in Derbyshire (8)


25 Tooth covering (6) 26 “Salome” composer (7) 27 Guided (7)


WINa bottle of something fizzy from BMJ’s local award- winning winery Chapel Down. Simply send in your completed scanned crossword entry, including your name and address to bmjournaldotnet@gmail.com by the end of the month. Or, post it to BMJ, Dateam Business Media, 15A London Road, Maidstone ME16 8LY.


Entries must be received by November 30 Last month’s solution


Across: 8 Tasmania, 9 No exit, 10 Brunei, 11 Nut brown, 12 On and off, 13 U S Navy, 14 General interest, 18 Helmet, 20 Got worse, 23 The Devil, 24 Bremen, 25 In-laws, 26 Sheridan.


Down: 1 Barren, 2 Eminence, 3 Indigo, 4 Magnifying glass, 5 Instruct, 6 Neuron, 7 Midwives, 15 Elephant, 16 Activism, 17 Rhodesia, 19 Median, 21 Tables, 22 See-saw.


Down 2 Wear away (5) 3 Polar wrecker (7) 4 Established form of words (7)


6 York, from London (2,5) 7 Picked democratically (5,2) 8 Adaptable (9) 10 Eavesdropping (9,2) 14 Thoughtless state (9) 17 African state on the Red Sea (7)


18 Elaborate Hispanic parties (7)


19 Yak seen running wild in North America (7)


20 Energize (7) 23 Tear up sheet for this lot (5)


47


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48