We need and seek the goodwill of our neighbouring communities and encourage the individual businesses to engage with them.
Chemring seeks opportunities to develop closer relationships with the communities within which we operate and support good causes related to our market. A few of our activities are described here.
Chemring Sponsors UK Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge
“Encouraging school children to enter the world of aerospace, engineering and science”
Chemring was proud to be one of the sponsors of the 2010 UK Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKAYRoC). The Challenge was to design, construct and successfully launch a rocket, carrying one raw medium size hen’s egg to an altitude of 825 feet with a flight time between 40-45 seconds, then return the egg and altimeter payload section safely and undamaged to earth using streamer recovery only.
Sixty three teams from around the UK completed qualification flights in front of an independent UKRA member and an independent witness, with the top 20 teams being able to qualify for the UK final fly-off event which took place on 2nd April 2009 at Charterhouse School, Surrey.
Horsforth Secondary School Team 2, from Leeds, took home the winner's trophy by completing the contest's task most successfully. The winners will attend the Farnborough International Airshow on 23rd July where they will fly their rocket in the international fly-off between the winning US and French teams. 2nd place was awarded to Wootton Basset School Team 1 from Wiltshire and 3rd place to Community Science College at Thornhill Team 1 from Dewsbury.
Chemring and ADS presenting the prize to Horsforth Secondary School Team 2
Pains Wessex supports youth sailing charities
Chemring Marine is sponsoring two UK youth sailing charities by donating Pains Wessex marine distress signals.
The marine distress signals have been handed over to Rona Sailing Project (formerly the London Sailing Project) and Ocean Youth Trust South, which both build up the confidence and skills of young people and are based on the UK’s south coast.
Both charities are very grateful for the donation of Pains Wessex offshore packs. Chemring Marine also donated demonstration flares, which Rona Sailing Project will use for training of crew members.
Rona Sailing Project, of Hamble, provides opportunities for 14-25 year olds, including disabled youngsters, to acquire attributes through sailing such as responsibility, resourcefulness and teamwork.
Rona Project Director Barry Easton-Corke says, “Our three purpose-built training vessels are MCA-coded, which means they are inspected every year and we have to have in-date flares on board for MCA-approvals. To equip all our vessels could cost around three thousand pounds.”
The Rona Sailing Project (www.ronasailingproject.org) is one of the oldest sail training organisations in the UK. Since being established 50 years ago, it has taken more than 30,000 young people to sea. Apart from its full-time team of five, all of the project’s 400 Skippers, Mates, Watch Officers and Watch Leaders are volunteers. Around 60% are former participants.
Ocean Youth Trust South is an adventure sail training charity which takes young people aged 12-25 to sea in its 72-foot yacht John Laing. Every crew member is promised that whatever effort and enthusiasm they put into the voyage, will be more than matched by what they get out.
Among those who take part in the voyages are young people with physical or learning difficulties, those with a sibling in a hospice, or who have been homeless, bullied, bereaved, or who have cancer.
Gosport-based Ocean Youth Trust South (www.oytsouth.org) is one of four regional charities that grew out of the Ocean Youth Club, which was founded in 1960, and has since given thousands of young people the chance to embark on sailing adventures.
Ocean Youth Trust South Operations Manager and Skipper, Mark Todd, says, “We are very grateful for the marine distress signals for John Laing, as we have previously bought the flares. However, we hope we never have to use them!”
Among other charities that Chemring Marine supports is the Sailors’ Society and it is a member of its Ambassador Programme. The Sailors’ Society supports seafarers on board and ashore.
The photograph shows members of the Club together with CEUK General Manager Eddie Sharkey and HR Manager Margaret Greenlees
As part of the Ayrshire Business in the Community 2008 Apprentice Challenge, CEUK Apprentices are repairing a sundial in memory of Ardeer Site employees who died during the Second World War. A small garden is also planned. The project has the support of the local branch of the Royal British Legion who is to arrange a dedication ceremony.
Chemring Marine’s Sales & Marketing Administrator Victoria Jones donating dummy marine distress signals to Barry Eastern-Corke, Project Director of the London Sailing project
Youth's experiencing sailing on one of the London Sailing Project vessels
Breast Cancer Care
On 8 May, Justine Heeley, Clare Newland and Victoria Jones from Chemring Marine and Vanessa Compton from Chemring International completed a 20 mile walk for Breast Cancer Care. They completed the walk in 7 hours and rewarded themselves with a large glass of bubbly at the finish line! Justine explained, "It was freezing, it rained, it blew, there were hills, moans, cries, falls, chocolate and music!! Nothing would dampen our spirits and somehow we did it raising over £2,000 for the charity."
From Left: Vanessa Compton, Clare Palmer, Justine Heeley, Victoria Jones and Clare Newland
CEUK - 3 Peaks Challenge
Eddie Sharkey, Graham Roos, Alan McKerns, Rebecca Gore and John Spencer (BAE Glascoed) achieved an impressive second place in the Guest Team category at BAE Systems annual 3 Peaks Challenge, which was held in Long Mynd, Shropshire.
The CEUK team hiked 21 miles in very wet and miserable conditions on Saturday 8 May to raise money for the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine and raised £250 for the charity.
Eddie Sharkey, CEUK General Manager, said “Our team did very well, despite being soaked and very muddy! We were delighted with second place and thank everyone who sponsored us for this excellent cause”.
The CEUK Team: Alan McKerns, Eddie Sharkey, Rebecca Gore, John Spencer, (BAE Glascoed) and Graham Roos.
Rebecca Gore smiling despite the weather
Alan McKerns taking on the final hill
Operation Home Front
NIITEK’s business foundation is built on helping troops. This mentality carries over to the employees as well. Again this year, NIITEK contacted Operation Home Front, an organisation that helps military families, and they adopted three families who were in need of our help. The employees quickly pulled together to support Operation Home Front and our “adopted” families. The employees donated more than enough money for three military families to have food, clothes, and toys for their children.
Employees shopped and wrapped gifts, making sure the families received everything they needed for a happy holiday season. On Wednesday 23 December, the NIITEK employees delivered the gifts. “The Adopt-a- Family Program is the true meaning of giving during the holiday season”, said Fred Clodfelter, NIITEK’s President. “It was nice to see everyone at NIITEK pull together again for a good cause. These military families give so much to support our country. It is always a pleasure to help them in their missions and at home. ”
NIITEK employee's displaying the gifts donated to military families
Employees at Chemring Countermeasures take part in Salisbury's 54321 race in aid of Help for Heroes
In August 2009 a number of Chemring Countermeasures (CCM) employees took part in the Salisbury 5-4-3-2-1 race organised by Salisbury Fire Brigade. The picture shows those who took part in one of the 5K, 10K and 20K races in aid of Help for Heroes. CCM raised £500 in total.
From Left Robert Goodman, Philippa Walker, Sue Rae, Simon Morley, Kenny Rae, Katy Hall, Sue Brock, Andy Willicome, Sandra Caro and Alan Moutray
Furthermore, CCM chose Help For Heroes as their official charity for the financial year Nov 08 – Oct 09. Throughout the year the company employees have participated in the above races, along with half marathons, the company Family Fun Day, bought Help For Heroes merchandise, donated money in lieu of Christmas Cards, competed in Golf Days and held numerous raffles raising over £2500. This was then matched by CCM who were pleased to present a cheque for over £5000 to a Help for Heroes representative