insideKENT Magazine Issue 23 - February 2014 | Page 142

CHARITY

SWALE HEATING PLEDGES TO CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR DEMELZA IN 2014
Kent-based Swale Heating, the largest
independent heating installer in the South East,
has pledged to continue its support for Demelza
Hospice Care for Children in 2014 for the fourth
consecutive year.

As well as servicing the boilers at no charge, the
company is on call 24/7 and provides free labour
for repairs. The partnership allows Demelza to
save at least £2,500 on its annual costs.
Swale Heating also helps raise awareness of
Demelza by displaying the charity’s logo on each
of its 220 service vehicles and on its website.
In 2012 the company took its support a step
further by incorporating the Demelza logo into
all of its TV adverts, raising awareness of the
charity among millions of viewers across the
South East. It’s the first time that Demelza has
had any television exposure, worth in excess of
£250,000 a year.
Swale Heating’s sales director, Matthew Edwards,
said: “We have always been committed to
working in partnership with our local community,
in a bid to make a positive contribution to those
less fortunate than ourselves.
“Demelza is a fantastic charity, and local to our
HQ in Sittingbourne, so it was a natural decision
for us to support them. As a Kent-based
company, we know how invaluable their care is.

Matthew Edwards,
Sales Director, Swale Heating

Swale Heating has been providing free heating
and hot water maintenance services at the
charity’s two children’s hospices in Sittingbourne
and Eltham since 2011.

“We realise that the charity receives very little
government funding and relies on donations and
support from organisations like ours to continue
to provide help for the families who need it.
“Our partnership with Demelza has given all of
our staff a real sense of pride knowing that they
are helping the charity to continue its fantastic
work. It’s great that our support is making a
tangible difference.”

As well as
supporting
Demelza in
an official
capacity,
Swale
Heating also
makes
regular cash
donations.
Since 2004,
it has raised more than £3,600 by organising
charity events such as golf days and ‘dress down’
days, purchasing Demelza auction items, and
through one-off cash donations.
A core team of at least 10 Swale Heating staff,
from engineers to planners, co-ordinates and
provides the annual support the company gives
to Demelza, and many more take part in and
organise fundraising events.
Matthew added: “The cash savings resulting
from our support, along with our regular
donations, enable the charity to allocate
substantially more vital funds to where it’s most
needed – caring for the children.”
Last year the company, which employs more
than 400 staff, was voted winner of the Corporate
Gift in Kind category at the 2013 Demelza
Business Awards in recognition of its outstanding
support for the charity.

www.swaleheating.com
www.demelza.org.uk

AVANTE CARE AND SUPPORT JOINS PRODUCED IN KENT
Avante Care and Support last year became the first residential care home
group to become a member of Produced in Kent. This is believed to be
the first collaboration of its kind between a food group promoting local food
and drink and a care home partnership. The move is part of Avante’s review
of healthy eating through its care homes across the county.
The charity, which is based in Faversham, runs 15 care homes across Kent
and South East London, caring for 1,200 residents living with dementia.
The review is resulting in more locally sourced fresh produce, creating new
menus and investing in more training for its cooks.

can make it harder for them to get the nutrients they need to remain healthy.
A diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables and with a healthy fat profile has
been linked to healthier bodies and healthier brains in the elderly.”
Ed Martin, manager from Produced in Kent says: "Produced in Kent is
delighted that Avante Care and Support has chosen to join as a corporate
member. In a clear sign of the times and with changing priorities for food
sourcing nationwide, Avante Care and Support is leading the way, seeing
the benefits of working closely with Kent-based food and drink producers
to support the excellent services that Avante Care and Support provide to
their customers."

Sophie Murray, head of nutrition and hydration at Avante Care and Support,
says: “We are really pleased to be the first care home group to have signed
up with Produced in Kent.
“Kent produces great food and we will buy local wherever and whenever
we can. Cooking fresh and healthy food is good for our clients and
sourcing top quality ingredients from producers in Ken t is good for the local
economy too.
“Nutrition is a very important part of caring for our clients, particularly those
with dementia. We age because the lipids (fats) and proteins within our
bodies changes and those with dementia often lose their appetite, which

142

www.avantepartnership.co.uk
www.producedinkent.co.uk