Supporting Local Charities

In November 2019, ClearView provided a free of charge CCTV and intruder alarm system to a Chelmsford charity called Sanctus. Sanctus offers shelter, food, practical and employment advice and counselling services for the homeless and those in need.

The aim of us providing this system was to improve the safeguarding of the staff, volunteers and the vulnerable people who utilise the charity’s services. The charity had been recommended to us as needing enhanced security by the Public Protection Manager of Chelmsford City Council.

We carried out a site visit where we asked the customer their needs and requirements to which they would benefit. It was from this that we gained a clear understanding that the shelter would benefit most from a new CCTV and intruder system in order to safeguard the staff and public using the facilities.

The installation was completed as quickly as possible to ensure minimum disruption at the site. Post-installation completion, training was carried out for Sanctus staff to ensure that they understood how to operate the security equipment. The newly installed 13 camera CCTV system now enables Sanctus to extract CCTV footage as required easily and the Hold-Up Alarm system provides increased security for the Sanctus staff in the event of an incident. By Installing the CCTV externally, this has also benefitted the local community by deterring criminal activity and therefore helping protect members of the local community.

ClearView is currently working on a project to help CHESS Homeless Shelter in Chelmsford reopen safely after being told to close as they have shared facilities which didn’t adhere to COVID restrictions set out earlier in the year. However, after putting safety measures in place to meet the restrictions, CHESS is planning to reopen their doors to provide support to the local community in need.

We have carried out a site survey to establish how we can improve the site’s security and spoke with staff to gain an understanding of what security systems, PPE and equipment they are in need of. This has shaped the services we plan to provide the shelter.

We are planning to provide additional security systems, and PPE to help safeguard staff and residence. As the shelter has had to reduce their overnight capacity, we will be providing takeaway containers and cutlery, so they can to continue their services and provide meals to all rough sleepers.

Although CHESS had risk assessments in place, we sent our HSQE Manager to the site to help advise on how to minimize the risk of contracting Coronavirus and to offer any assistance creating and improving their risk assessments.

Since 2005 ClearView has taken part in the annual Race 4 Business, raising money for a variety of local charities in Essex. Organised by Birketts Solicitors, Race 4 Business has taken place for the last 21 years and is an annual 3.5 charity race around Chelmsford. Over the years ClearView has proudly taken part in the annual event raising money for Farleigh’s Hospice Outreach Project (HOP), Little Haven’s Hospice, Special Needs and Parents (SNAP), The J’s Hospice, and Age UK.

ClearView last took part in the 20th anniversary of the annual Race 4 Business, which all donations went towards a new vehicle for Farleigh’s Hospice Outreach Project (HOP). Allowing them to continually operate the mobile unit service providing a flexible and accessible range of services within the heart of the community.

ClearView supports Chelmsford food bank by collecting internal donations from staff in order to help tackle poverty and hunger in our local community.

Chelmsford Food Bank is a project of the Oasis Church which has a variety of  Food Distribution Centres open across Chelmsford and has been helping those in the local community for seven years.

We are committed to helping our local community and are setting out to beat our last year’s target and collecting as many donations internally as we can.

ClearView supports Snak Appeal and Charity Sweets to raise awareness for local charities such as Havens Hospice and Air Ambulance by providing sweet and snack boxes within the office,  which is available to all staff.

Formed in 2008, Snak Appeal is partners with children’s hospices throughout the UK and supports European children charities. They raise money for children’s charities placing sweets and snacks in leisure and workplace environments. ClearView has been supporting Snak Appeal raise money for Havens Hospice for many years and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Since 2001, Charity Sweets have been distributing sweet and snack boxes to a variety of businesses, in order to raise money for thousands of charities. They have currently donated over £1M to charities across the UK. For many years ClearView has supported Charity Sweets, raising money and awareness for The Children’s Air Ambulance charity.

In order to support Save the Children charity, ClearView staff traded their shirts and ties for a festive woolly jumper raising money to support vulnerable children in both the UK and abroad.

Save The Children Christmas Jumper Day takes place every year and is a fundraising event to raise money to ensure children are healthy and have access to food and education. As a company, we are looking to taking part in this year’s event and raising as much money and awareness as we can.

As a company, we encourage our employees to take part in any charity/fundraising. Employees are given the opportunity to raise money for their own private charities or fundraising, and the company will always aim to contribute by matching the donation. Furthermore, our Finance Director (and Company Secretary of ClearView) has set up a dedicated charity (Charity No. 1108849) to support both local and national charities

In order to show our ongoing support to our local community, ClearView offer discounts not only to public services such as NHS, Police and Military but to local businesses across Essex. We also support and employee Ex-Military personnel. Our MD, Michael Vincent, regularly mentors and provides free advice to veterans who have left the Military, ensuring they have the knowledge, skills and confidence to further their careers.