Bell Group supports Fresh Start

 

Bell Group are currently one of the largest property services contractors in the UK, both in terms of geographical coverage and its directly employed workforce. It is a family-owned and operated company that offers a full spectrum of property services.

They are dedicated to doing what is right and not what is easy. They are proud of this, and they believe the success of their contracts is driven by community investment and the involvement of local people.

Through their recent work with The University of Edinburgh they were keen to organise the below sessions as part of their social value commitment, to make a positive local impact.

 

Fresh Start is an Edinburgh-based charity helping people who have been homeless get established in their new homes.

Working in partnership with volunteers and organisations from a broad section of the community, Fresh Start delivers a range of services that provide the practical and social support people need to resettle successfully.

Fresh Start helps thousands of new tenants settle into their homes each year. This can only be achieved by the hard work of its volunteers and the generosity of the donations it receives.

The ESES Communities Team presented the ‘Warehouse Starter Pack Volunteering Day’ to Bell, and they were keen to get involved. 

 

Bell's team members participated in two volunteering sessions, led by their Community Engagement Coordinator Angela Cree.

Their first session in early August saw Angela and Mike Neile, Director of Operations Scotland, assisting in the warehouse by sorting through donations and assembling bedding bundles which would then be used in the vital starter packs.

Later in the month, Angela was joined by her colleagues Sandra Liddle (Business Development Manager), Fraser Kay (Contracts Supervisor), and Lewis McLean (Trainee Quantity Surveyor). During this session, the Bell team helped to make food packs, sort donations, and assemble starter packs. They also donated household items, including glasses, pots and pans, bedding sets, and dish towels which would all go towards the starter packs. These packs are essential for anyone who has moved on from homelessness and is setting up home, starting from scratch. We often take for granted just how difficult that can be, and all of Fresh Start's efforts go a long way to making that process a little easier for each individual. 

Angela Cree from Bell said, “It was truly inspiring to be part of a team of passionate staff and volunteers who make such a meaningful daily impact. We also donated household products and toiletries, which will be included in future starter packs. These contributions are vital; they provide practical support and send a powerful message of care and solidarity to those starting over.

It was a privilege to roll up our sleeves and support this amazing charity that is doing incredible work to help people rebuild their lives after homelessness.

This volunteering effort is closely connected to the work our Bell Asset Management Edinburgh University branch is currently delivering for our client, The University of Edinburgh. Through this relationship, we have been able to deepen our social value impact by supporting Fresh Start, an organisation that aligns with the university’s commitment to community wellbeing and sustainability.

This kind of work speaks to the heart of what social value really means, supporting people not just with shelter, but with the tools and care they need to thrive.

Thank you to Fresh Start for the warm welcome and for everything you do. It was a day filled with purpose, and we were proud to be part of it."