The Liniar team has rejuvenated the outdoor area for residents of Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People.
The idea was sparked by Claire Sharpe, who works as purchasing assistant for the PVC-U systems company. Claire ran the London Marathon in October 2022, raising more than £10,500 for Rainbows Hospice.
When Kirsty Coxon, Rainbows’ corporate partnership fundraiser, asked Claire to visit the Loughborough-based hospice to find out more about the impact of the funds she raised, Claire jumped at the chance. During a tour of the purpose-built facilities, Kirsty explained that volunteers look after Rainbows’ garden areas, keeping them weed-free and wheelchair friendly for families of different ages to enjoy.
Passing an unused muddy area, Kirsty commented that the hospice team would love to have decking installed in the future, to make it more attractive and useable. Claire immediately thought of Liniar’s decking range, and the wheels were soon set in motion.
Liniar’s outdoor team visited Rainbows to carry out a site survey and determine what was needed, then created a decking kit consisting of SwitchBoard Ultra PVC-U composite deckboards and a matching balustrade with glass panels. To keep the installation rot-free, the decking was installed on a Liniar aluminium sub frame, and a ramp was added for access.
The work was carried out over a few days in April, by volunteers from the Liniar’s secondary operations, design and technical teams. The installation was completed in time for Rainbows’ Open Day.
“It was a very humbling day,” said Monika Bailey, Liniar’s group finance director, who attended the open day with her mother. “The deck looks absolutely amazing and will make a massive difference to Rainbows.
“I’m very proud to be part of a team that is able to help make lives better in this way.”
Kirsty added: “We’ve all been blown away by the generosity of the team at Liniar and the speed at which they made things happen! Everyone loves the new decking area, and it’s already been put to good use – for example, we recently held a stargazing evening with bean bags and blankets for one of our families.
“Liniar has been a big supporter of Rainbows since the start of Covid-19 in 2020. We feel that its team have really taken us to heart – they get involved in lots of fundraising activities. All the funds go towards brightening the lives of children with serious or terminal illnesses.
“We’re grateful to Claire for the staggering amount she raised, and also for enabling us to receive our new decking area – thank you to everyone involved!”
For more information about Rainbows, or to donate, visit the organisation’s website.
