The Gallagher Group are now proud to be corporate sponsor of the "Kent Wildlife Trust".
Welcome to Feedback
Feedback is a Gallagher Group initiative via which both company and employees
undertake to help in our local community. This takes many forms - volunteers,
charitable donations, utilising group skills, materials and machinery.
In recent times Gallaghers have helped:
Aylesford Bulls Rugby Club, Maplesden Noakes School Sports Hall project, Kent County Showground, Maidstone Hospital, Ryarsh C P School, Heart of Kent Hospice, Kent Wildlife Trust, Blackthorn Trust (Medical Charity), Demelza House Childrens Hospice, Leybourne Riding for the Disabled and the Lighthouse Club.
The Hermitage Estate covers an area of 600 acres and includes a large area of woodland. Gallaghers are delighted to welcome members of the public to enjoy the vast array of footpaths, tracks and benches created for the benefit of walkers, cyclists and horse riders from the local community.
Geology field trip to Hermitage Quarry
Students from Mid Kent College, studying Geology and Soils, joined the Gallagher Aggregates team at Hermitage Quarry on a recent field trip. The students were totally surprised by the scale and quality of the operation. The students can be seen here standing on the viewing platform which overlooks the impressive quarry basin.
Gallaghers help 'Hilton in the Community Foundation'
Every year the Hilton Maidstone raises funds for the Hilton in the Community Foundation and this year is no exception. A week of events saw staff walking, running, rowing or cycling around the Hotel to raise as much money as possible for the Foundation. The nominated charity was the Guide Dogs for Blind Association.
The highlight of the week had to be the Executive Car and Van Valet Service. All the Manager’s in the Hotel agreed to put on their fundraising T-Shirts, leave their desks and paperwork behind and pick up a sponge or a chamois for the day and wash cars, vans and the odd lorry for charity. Gallaghers contributed to the service by providing a van and a tipper lorry to be cleaned (no mean feat!) as well as providing a donation to the Foundation.
The total money raised during the week was £1,285.68. This money has been sent to the Hilton Foundation which will then be passed on to Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and will be used to benefit young people under 25 years of age.
Maidstone's Model For Success
In 2006, Maidstone achieved Growth Point status. Over the next 20 years a £320 million investment programme will lead to the creation of 11,000 new homes and up to 10,000 new jobs.
Maidstone has the largest economy in Kent, of which it is also the county town. Businesses in the town - there are 7,000 of all sizes with access to a 790,000 strong workforce in Kent - are facing up to the economic challenges and many are creating new opportunities.
Since April 2007, Locate in Kent, the investment promotion agency for Kent and Medway, has helped 18 companies move to or expand in Maidstone...
Keeping out the Elements
Gallaghers land mark development at junction 7 M20, Eclipse Park is home to the Maidstone Park and Ride, a parcel of land leased to Maidstone Borough Council. Its been a very popular service but it has lacked any creature comforts, the bus stop has been open to the elements. With autumn upon us and winter quickly approaching, Gallaghers were asked whether they could come up with any suggestions. The answer has been for Gallaghers to provide a new enclosed bus stop to benefit the local community in those cold and rainy days.
Carriage Museum Works
The All Saint’s area of Maidstone Town Centre is an area that MBC have been seeking to improve. MCCH, a local charity for the support of individuals with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs, has been awarded the contract to carry out improvements to the area. Gallagher have agreed to support the charity by donating several £’000’s of work, time and materials to the gardens and car park project.
Forced landed aircraft at Luckhurst Farm on the Hermitage Estate
On Thursday 15th October a new Cessna 127 light aircraft was collected from Rochester Airport for delivery to Eastbourne.
At 2100 feet, and within a couple of minutes of take-off, the propeller suddenly stopped and the pilot immediately sent out a Mayday call.
He looked for a large open space and in the distance saw a long field at Luckhurst Farm. Fortunately, the experienced pilot kept his cool and brought the plane down safely. When we arrived on the scene, I said to the pilot “Christ, I bet that made your backside twitch”
“Actually, no” he said, “I was a bit too busy to think about that”
As a qualified flying instructor with 40 years experience he had a calmness about him that was quite incredible. The plane glided for one minute and he was lucky to be able to tell the tale. The engine casing had literally broken in half!
Re-cycling in support of the Armed Forces Rehabilitation Centre, Hedley Court
November has seen Gallaghers attending a Sportsman’s Dinner and Charity auction hosted by the World Cup winner and Manchester United legend, Nobby Stiles MBE, in aid of the Armed Forces Rehabilitation Centre, Hedley Court. The charity auction found the room rather on the ‘tight’ side and because it was for such a worthy cause, the Gallaghers table rose to the occasion taking home the majority of the auction lots. Most of these will be put back into future auctions – an novel form of ‘re-cycling’.
Thank you! Now we can buy a guide dog puppy
To mark Kent Messenger's 150th anniversary, Kent Messenger launched their Puppy Love appeal aimed to sponsor a guide dog puppy. Setting themselves a target of £5,000, they received many donations from local people and companies. On tuesday, chairman of Gallagher Group, Pat Gallagher handed over a sizable donation helping Kent Messenger and Guide Dogs' Maidstone branch reach their target.
Mr Gallagher said "We are given the ability to get out there and earn a few pounds - what's wrong with giving a bit of it back?" He said that he had worn glasses since he was a child and had eye problems which had led to surgery. "So i know how valuable one's sight is".
Gallaghers support Maidstone’s heritage
Overgrown gardens in some of Maidstone’s most historic spots are being restored by charity volunteers, with the help of local construction company, Gallaghers. The grounds of the Archbishop’s Palace and the All Saints’ Church were given a facelift by MCCH, a charity which supports the lives of people with learning difficulties, autism and mental health problems, under the Growing Concern project. The scheme is supported by Maidstone council, which also plans to plant more trees and replace the railings at the historic palace.