Logistics firm supports employee’s endeavours
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 11 April 2019
UPDATED: 11 April 2019
A kind-hearted employee and his family are having their endeavors boosted by his company.
James Brown, a warehouse operative at one of innovative and ambitious logistics provider Europa Worldwide Group’s Northampton warehouses, regularly travels to the villages of Mwkamba and Tiwi in Mombasa, Kenya with his wife (Michelle) and parents-in-law.
On the trips he and the family all take donated clothes and other essential items to families in need. His clothing collections are now being boosted by his employer Europa Worldwide Group. The firm is launching a pilot clothing collection across its two Europa Warehouse divisions in Birmingham and Northampton. It’s hoped that the 120 staff at the two sites will be able to donate much needed clothing to support James’s initiative.
The aim being to source additional clothing and old workwear for James and his family to take.
James has worked at Europa Warehouse in Grange Park for more than 13 years. He and his wife Michelle – who live close to Grange Park – have been visiting the area for many years. Michelle comments
“My parents first started visiting Kenya 17 years ago when they retired, and met a chap on the beach who offered to take them on a tour of the local area, including his village.
James continues “It became obvious that the people in the village could do with a bit of a helping hand, and that lots of charity collections don’t get to where we would want them to go. So, we decided to take what we could in our suitcases.
“Any clothes we collect, we take to the two villages. This ranges from reasonably smart clothes for going to work/ interviews (particularly important now tourism has dropped), to children’s clothes and football kits. Anything is welcome, because they are so grateful that somebody is thinking of them, from half way round the world. Hard wearing clothes and shoes are particularly useful.”
Maria Torrent-March, Logistics Director at Europa Warehouse added
“This is a fantastic initiative and James and his family do an amazing job. They are not a charity – this is just something they do personally so we’re delighted to able to support them.”
This is the latest community initative from Europa Worldwide Group who earlier this year launched a volunteered ‘Charity Champion’ programme across 14 of its UK sites.
Europa has supported popular charity days including Make May Purple for the Stroke Association, Wear Red Day for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and Wear a Hat Day for Brain Tumour Research.
Carl Potter, HR and Facilities Director at Europa, added:
“Charity work is incredibly important to us and we’re passionate about supporting causes close to the hearts of our employees.”
In 2017, Europa launched its 50:50 match-funding programme which has so far raised nearly over £17,000 for various charities. The company also raised thousands of pounds to purchase a new pirate-themed playground at Darent Valley Hospital, near its headquarters in Dartford, which was installed in June last year.
Europa Worldwide Group is a specialist road, air & sea, warehouse and showfreight operator employing more than 900 people across 16 sites in the UK, as well as Hong Kong, Czech Republic and Belgium, and with representation in 100 countries.
Picture caption: Europa Warehouse Operative James Brown (front) with Europa General Logistics Manager Graham Dezelsky (left)
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