THE local community in Ridgeways has been provided with a generous selection of paint and equipment for the construction of the yearly Christmas grotto, thanks to a donation from home improvement business Wickes and its store in Harlow. 

The donations were provided as part of the Wickes Community Programme, a new initiative which aims to support local groups and organisations by providing products to help them with essential maintenance, renovation, or complete new projects. As an inclusive home improvement business with their own unique and engaging culture, Wickes prides itself on being a part of their local communities and is always looking at ways to best support them. 

The money raised from the grotto will be given to St Clare Hospice, Harlow. St Clare Hospice is a charity providing specialist palliative care to improve the lives of people affected by a life-limiting illness in West Essex and the borders of East Hertfordshire.

The community of Ridgeways, Harlow have used the products donated by Wickes to create displays and decorations for their upcoming grotto. Water pipes have been painted candy colours, post boxes have been created for donations and a memorial tree will be mounted, providing locals with the ultimate Christmas experience. Residents can expect to enjoy the celebrations until 1^st  January.

Wickes Harlow Store Manager, Andy Smith said: “We’re passionate about our local community and when we heard about Ridgeways’ project, we were delighted to be able to step in and provide them with the materials they needed. We are looking forward to seeing the finished results! We welcome any local community group to get in touch to see if we can help with their next project.”

Ellie Gale, Relationship Fundraiser at St Clare Hospice said: “We help local people, their families and carers to make the most of every moment together whilst supporting them whether at home or in the Hospice. We rely on our local community to help with fundraising, so we are very grateful for the amazing support of the Ridgeways community, with their Christmas Grotto and lights display, which will allow us to continue our work for local families.”

The Wickes Community Programme is open to all local community groups seeking help for improvement projects, and any groups interested in donations should go to their local store and speak to the manager.