As part of the BBC’s DIY SOS project in Mud Hills Park in Beverely, East Yorkshire, Arco, the UK and Ireland’s leading safety products and services company, donated 290 hi-vis garments and 300 pairs of gloves to support the project team.

On the 14th of May, tradespeople gathered to completely transform a field into a new facility for Cherry Tree Youth Club. The volunteer tradespeople completed the project over eight days, finishing construction of the evening of the 21st of May.

The Cherry Tree Youth Club engages with around 90 young people a week, aiming to improve their lives through structured activity and support. The club emphasises ‘fun’ activities for those between the ages of 10 and 18, with partnered support sessions that help young people within their own community.

Some of the facilities in the new building include game consoles, board games, a kitchen, toilets and an outdoor gym area. The volunteers donated their time and materials to the project to make an impact in the local community. Over the eight days, the volunteers were offered a full catering experience and a chance to put their skills and knowledge together to work with other volunteers.

The show is hosted by British TV presenter Nick Knowles, who hails from Beverley and said that the struggles faced by the group had resonated with him.

Sarah Jones, Employee Experience Coordinator from Arco said: “We welcomed the opportunity to support on the DIY SOS project as Arco is committed to contributing to projects that truly make a positive impact to the community and help the lives of local people. Arco prides itself on supporting local initiatives like this DIY SOS project and will continue to look for opportunities to donate our time and resources to support local communities.

“I was fortunate to spend time on the site and watch tradespeople from the Yorkshire area and beyond assemble to build this essential centre for young people, distributing safety equipment so that they could devote their time to construction on such a tight deadline.”

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About Arco: What they do and how they’re different

Arco is the UK’s leading safety products and services company. Its core purpose is to keep people safe at work. It distributes a world-class range of over 170,000 quality assured, branded and own brand products, including personal protective equipment, workwear, safety footwear, gloves, workplace safety and hygiene products. It is unique.

Arco Professional Safety Services provide consultancy, training, services and equipment to manage the most complex and high-risk, high hazard scenarios. Specialising in working at height, confined space and respiratory management, they deliver solutions for those working in situations with the highest risk of serious injury or irreversible damage to health.

Headquartered in Hull, Arco reaches its customers through its extensive product catalogue, website and national network of retail stores. The company has sales of over £320m and employs more than 1600 people nationwide. Its 400,000 sqft National Distribution Centre distributes products to 25k customers in the UK and Ireland, dispatching 150 pallets and 8000 parcels a day. Arco makes it easy for customers to procure and issue PPE with services such as digital procurement, vending, a mobile issue unit, wearer packing and branded workwear from their in-house Clothing Centre based in Preston.

As the market leader, Arco is committed to helping shape the UK’s safety agenda in order to ensure workers go home safe every night. Through an extensive public affairs programme, Arco experts have contributed to some of the key debates on health and safety regulation, product quality and standards, PPE procurement and emergency planning.

Arco is committed to providing safety equipment that is genuine and compliant with relevant standards and regulations, Arco tests both its own product range as well as carrying out surveillance on other products in the market to ensure compliance. With a five-step product assurance process, Arco remains the only safety distributor with an independently accredited testing laboratory, this assisted by a team of specialists in their Xiamen, China office who support with sourcing, quality control and factory inspections. Additionally, it is a member of the BSIF Registered Safety Suppliers Scheme, and Arco experts sit on numerous Standards Boards.

Arco was the first member within the H&S industry to join the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) incorporating its internationally recognised code of labour practice into its own ethical policy and in 2010 became a member of Sedex, the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange. To ensure ethical standards are met throughout its supply chain, Arco carries out regular independent supplier auditing. Working with the ETI and other regulatory bodies, the company plays a leading role in helping to educate and eliminate modern day slavery across the globe.

Principles of sustainable development have long been embedded in the way Arco does business. Arco’s Sustainability Action team has committed to ensuring the business behaves responsibly in all areas, investing significant time and resource to identify ways to reduce plastics, packaging and recycling.

Founded in 1884 and with a heritage spanning five generations, Arco demonstrates traditional family values and is dedicated to its Corporate Social Responsibility policy. Arco is committed to help keep communities safe, inspire young people to achieve their full potential and to enhance local life, making the communities they serve better places in which to live, work and invest. It does this through charity and community support, donating 1% of pre-tax profits each year. Arco also gives colleagues two days’ paid leave each year to volunteer in the community and the opportunity to partner with and sponsor community groups and charities, forming lasting relationships that support them in the vital services that they offer.

For more information, visit www.arco.co.uk.

For more information, please contact:

Nick Jackman – 07340 416723 Email: njackman@houston.com