Home improvement retailer Wickes has teamed up with singer TV presenter and DIY enthusiast Kimberley Walsh to launch the Wickes Community Programme Competition, and offer a community organisation the chance to win £10,000. Whether it’s transforming a Community Hall or sensory area, creating a community garden or building a chicken coop, Wickes brand partner Kimberley Walsh is encouraging people of all ages, from organisations in communities up and down the country to enter the competition to make material difference to their area.
The Wickes Community Programme Competition was launched following research that found more than half (51%) of Brits believe a renewed community space would boost not only their enjoyment of their local area, but their mental health and wellbeing. The survey carried out amongst 1,500 people, revealed that more than a quarter of Britons (26%) are feeling a lack of social interaction with their local communities, while almost a third (32%) of 18-29 year olds claimed to feel ‘disconnected’ from their local area.
The study also found that a quarter of UK adults claim that they would go from never visiting local community spaces to visiting once a week if they were revamped and made to look more appealing. The findings of this research served to solidify the need for a material difference in communities across the UK.
Judged by a panel of experts including Kimberley Walsh and award-winning community investment and engagement platform Neighbourly, entrants simply need to share information about a local organisation, how they’d spend the money and the difference it will make, to be in with a chance of winning the transformative prize.
To mark the launch, Kimberley Walsh headed down to Spitalfields City Farm in East London to showcase the possibilities of winning the Wickes Community Programme competition: Click here to see video
Wickes partner Kimberley Walsh said: “This competition is a brilliant opportunity. Growing up, I would always be down in my local community hall and theatre performing, and now, being a parent myself, I know how important it is to have accessible and fully functional spaces available for people of all ages to enjoy.
“Ten thousand pounds will go a long way to transform a rundown or unkempt area into something remarkable so I can’t wait to see the entries come through, as well as choosing an eventual winner.”
This competition is the official launch of the Wickes Community Programme, a dedicated product fund to support local initiatives and organisations to improve their community areas. Having been trialled in 2021, the scheme has supported 350 projects already, and seen spaces such as Kids in Action Children's Charity, the Cuan Wildlife Rescue Centre and Walking with the Wounded Charity receive items. The retailer’s Community Programme has over a quarter of a million pounds worth of products to help benefit the local communities.
Gary Kibble, Chief Marketing & Digital Officer, said: “We see our role in society as much more than a home improvement retailer, Wickes exists to help the nation feel house proud and this includes the communities we operate in. Our Community Programme offers product support to renew communal spaces, and to highlight this initiative we’re giving one organisation the chance to win £10,000 to transform their space. This competition, and our programme, will make a material difference to those in the community.”
The Wickes Community Programme competition is open from 15th June for four weeks. For full terms and conditions and to submit your application simply go online and search for the Wickes Community Programme.
