One of the biggest trade retailers in the UK, Screwfix, has set up a charity that will provide grants for charities to fix, maintain and improve their properties.

The Screwfix Foundation has already chosen two national partners – Barnardo’s and Macmillan Cancer Support. Barnardo’s will use its grant to maintain its local centres which support sick children and their families, while Macmillan will put the funds towards its grant scheme, enabling people with cancer to adapt their homes to make their lives easier.

A spokeswoman for the building trade retailer said while its first recipients are large organisations, the main aim of the charity is to support smaller local projects who can apply for grants online.

The Screwfix Foundation will raise money through staff fundraising events in Screwfix’s 280 stores. There will also be collection boxes in all its stores.

John Mewett, marketing director from Screwfix, said: “Over the years we have supported a number of charities on both a national and local level, operating in a range of sectors. We’re delighted to be in a position to set up the Screwfix Foundation this year to raise money…There is an extremely strong level of staff support for charity fundraising and our customers are equally charitable, as shown by the engagement in our recent campaign for testicular and prostate cancer charity, Everyman.”

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