On the 4th May representatives from CRASH Patron Partner companies visited St George’s Crypt day centre in Leeds to view the completed 1.3 million pound redevelopment of the centre, which CRASH has supported.

St George’s Crypt is a day and night-time refuge that supports up to 120 homeless people per day in the care centre, and 15 per night in the over-night centre. Situated on the ground floor of St George’s Church building in the heart of the commercial centre of Leeds, St George’s Crypt responds to the increasingly complex needs of homeless people, particularly those aged 25 and under. The Crypt has undergone a major redevelopment programme costing £1.3m which has made the charity a real Place of Change.

CRASH, the construction industry charity, played a pivotal role in the programme of redevelopment for St George’s Crypt by pledging a cash grant of £70,000. CRASH also sourced building materials free of charge or at a discounted rate from its Patron Partners and supporting suppliers within the construction industry.

Thanks to the following companies who generously supplied materials through CRASH for this project:

• Aggregate Industries
• Altro
• Baxi Group
• British Gypsum
• Heatrae Sadia
• HR Johnson Tiles
• Hunter Plastics
• Lafarge
• MK Electric 

Martin Patterson, Fundraising Director of St George’s Crypt said of CRASH’s support:
‘St George’s Crypt has been working with CRASH for 4 years.  The partnership has had so many positive outcomes – invaluable financial support, materials at no or low cost and development of strategic relationships which stand us in very good stead for the future.  CRASH is an immense resource for the homelessness sector in facilitating best value in our development projects, and in helping partners in the construction sector to make a crucial difference to the lives of homeless and disadvantaged people up and down the country.’

Amongst those who visited the redeveloped site were representatives from CRASH Patron Partner companies Balfour Beatty, British Gypsum, Davis Langdon, EC Harris, Hilti and Travis Perkins.