In Hospice Care Week (October 10 to 14) fourth-generation family-owned The Cleenol Group, a manufacturer and supplier of commercial and industrial cleaning and hygiene products, speaks about its close bond for many years with a much-loved local hospice.
Cleenol’s association with Katharine House Hospice dates back to its foundation. The headmaster at Katharine Gadsby’s school was Ken Greaves, grandfather of current MD of Cleenol Group, Sam Greaves. Ken, a long-time friend of Neil Gadsby, read at Katharine’s funeral and also assisted Neil in the acquisition of the land on which the hospice was built. Sam’s father, Richard Greaves, and predecessor as Cleenol’s MD, was a trustee for over 15 years, and took over as chairman of the hospice when Neil retired.
Over the last eight years Cleenol has been providing the hospice with a variety of cleaning products – all free of charge – and saving it £5,000 a year. The products include toilet maintainers and descalers, cream cleaners, sanitisers, wax free polishes and lift spray cleaners with bactericides.
Also, since 2014, Cleenol has donated over £20,000 to the hospice through employee fundraising and various sponsorship activities. These have included midnight walks, Christmas raffles, sponsorship of Christmas cards, ‘Bring a £1 to Work Day’, collection boxes placed in Cleenol’s reception, ‘Care for A Cuppa’, an accumulator challenge, a gala dinner held at nearby Blenheim Palace, sponsorship of newsletters and donated profits from sales of scrap metal and office products.
Fundraising key to hospice’s future
Trevor Johnson, CEO at Katharine House Hospice, said: “We still enjoy working closely together as a partnership, with Cleenol also sponsoring our hospice projects and through employee fundraising. We are very much looking forward to the partnership growing and celebrating Cleenol’s 75th anniversary next year.
“The hospice simply would not exist without the support from our local businesses, like Cleenol. Indeed, Cleenol provide more than just support, they are a partnership with the hospice providing gifts in kind, sponsorship and fundraising.
“They are a company that share the same values as the hospice which is why we work so well together and we are proud to be a partnership with them.
“Cleenol as a business are very passionate and committed to supporting the local community and by supporting the community, they, in turn, support both their staff and clients”.
