LOCAL BUSINESS ‘SPRINGS’ INTO ACTION TO HELP A SPECIAL PRE-SCHOOL

JOHN and Debbie Williams, the co-founders of one of the South West's best-known heating and plumbing companies, have sponsored equipment and uniforms for a specialist pre-school struggling with Covid restrictions and lockdown.

The pair, who run John Williams Heating Services in Chippenham have sponsored a dishwasher and uniforms for use by staff at Springboard which is a specialist preschool for children aged two 0 to five years old with special educational needs and disability. 

Debbie said: “We have always sponsored worthy causes in the community and we often sponsor community events, sadly most of them have not gone ahead over the last year. We decided the pandemic was not going to stop us helping out where we could. 

“Springboard does such a vital, yet often hidden, role in our community and trying to do that job with the added challenge of Covid19 and trying to keep everyone safe has been very, very difficult. It was a chance conversation which led us to approach the staff at Springboard to ask what help they might need at this time.”

John Williams Heating Services went on to pay for Springboard to have a dishwasher and some additional staff uniforms: fleeces and polo tops for the playroom staff and jackets for the office staff.

Anne Farrell, finance officer, said: “The uniform was desperately needed due to new protocols introduced due to Covid19.  We needed to ensure staff had plenty of uniform changes to maintain the high hygiene standards needed for a safe environment.

“Staff are usually given two tops and one fleece when they start work at Springboard. It was impractical for staff to wash and dry repeatedly every night for wearing the following day. The purchase of extra uniform was not in our budget. The  cancellation of planned fundraising events and a reduced income was making it difficult to buy the additional uniform.”

Office staff also received a jacket which is windproof and showerproof for use when meeting and greeting families outside at the gate, at the start and end of each session.  

“The dishwasher has been on our wish list for a quite a while but was becoming a real necessity. Previously all food utensils were hand washed but with Covid19 toys also need more cleaning and sterilising.  The dishwasher is more efficient and economic promoting greater hygiene but more importantly allowing us to spend more time with the children and their families,” Anne said. 

“We really value the support from John and Debbie Williams it’s greatly appreciated. We are a local independent charity and strive to make a difference for the children and families that need us. We would welcome conversations from any individuals or businesses whom could help us today and give our families hope for tomorrow.” 

John and Debbie are well known in Chippenham as the founders of John Williams Heating Services, a Worcester accredited installer and a member of Oftec, the trade association monitoring best practice in oil heating installation and repair. They are also accredited with Gas Safe and are based on the Bumpers Farm Industrial Estate. For more information visit https://jwheating.co.uk

To find out more about Springboard or to offer them support visit https://springboardchippenham.co.uk

*Please note these images were taken safely, prior to Lockdown 3. Image 1 shows John & Debbie Williams with some of the Springboard staff and students. The second image shows staff with their new fleeces, provided by John Williams Heating Services.