AKW is proud to announce our sponsorship of Hemsworth Miners’ Martyn Gorton for the 2026 cricket season.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare Cricket Club is a friendly, inclusive, community-based sports club located in Fitzwilliam, West Yorkshire, who currently compete in the Pontefract & District Cricket League.
The Wells have been in existence since 1907 and provide opportunities for teenagers and adults of all abilities, competition in cricket and a focal point for players, families, supporters and visitors to socialise.
AKW have helped Citizen Housing residents across the West Midlands with adaptations to their homes after donating 300 grab rails. Citizen’s Maintenance Operations Team have already been installing the rails in homes of residents who need them.
One resident who benefitted is Ann Dodd who had them installed in her bathroom and at the front and back of her home. She said: “I am ever so pleased with them, especially the ones in the bathroom – it’s made a huge difference in helping me get in and out of the shower.
Head of Property Services, Richard Podmore said: “We’re so grateful to AKW for this donation which will have a huge impact on our customers. We work with our partners to make a positive difference to our customers and communities and AKW are helping us to achieve this.”
In December 2025, AKW gladly supported the WPS Citizen Project Team, comprised of colleagues from social housing provider Citizen Housing, and property developer Wates who partnered for a Christmas social value project to deliver gifts to vulnerable children living in Citizen properties in the Midlands.
AKW were proud support the generous initiative, with Sustainability Manager Lauren Jones and Business Development Manager Craig Hateley teaming up to purchase, wrap and deliver 50 gifts for children aged between 1-16, who otherwise may have little or no gifts to open on Christmas Day.
In autumn 2025, AKW gladly supported customer and contractor Trueden Disability Adaptations Ltd with a social value project to upgrade the accessible toilet and showering facilities at Noo Beginnings Animal Sanctuary in Faversham, Kent.
Noo Beginnings is a family-run animal rescue charity whose mission is to provide a forever home to rescued farmed animals and other sentient beings who need their help.
Several AKW products were installed at the sanctuary by the Trueden team, including a Navlin Doc M WC and wash basin, Tuff Form wet floor former, a variety of grab rails and a 2000 Series Shower Seat.
In November 2025, AKW supported north west-based construction company and contractor HMS, part of the Torus group, by donating a £100 Amazon gift voucher and 54 bottles of beer towards their charity fundraiser.
The event was held in Liverpool in aid of Alfie’s Squad, a charity who support children and families who have been bereaved by suicide, with a fundraising raffle organised by HMS and attended by 150 colleagues and guests.
In July 2025, AKW donated seven Marlbrook Wall Panels in White Marble finish to Broadlands Pre-School Centre, a community-based, non-profit pre-school situated in the Leckhampton area of Cheltenham, where staff provide a fun learning environment for children aged 2-5.
“As a charity, we rely on donations to be able to upgrade areas of the setting that would otherwise go undone due to rising costs and limited funding.
Our entrance gets a lot of footfall and some very sticky hands as you can imagine! The difference the panels have made to this area in keeping it easy to clean and looking bright and fresh is amazing. We even have some materials left over, so will be upgrading the walls in our children’s bathroom too during the Christmas holidays.
Without your generosity, we would have been unable to complete this upgrade and we are very grateful! Thank you once again for all your support.”
In July 2025, AKW donated an electric Care Shower to Astley Hall Care Home, part of the Heritage Manor group in Stourport-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, a quintessential English country house set within beautiful grounds, who offer residential and nursing care, in addition to a specialist dementia unit.
Arranged with the help of AKW’s Sara, whose mother is a resident, the thermostatic electric care shower has since been fitted in the downstairs shower room, where the previous model was broken, rendering the space unavailable for use by residents. The new shower was gladly received by the Astley Hall team, who can now offer improved showering facilities.
In July 2025, AKW donated a Tuff Form Wet Room Former to national construction charity Band of Builders, to support them with the completion of Toby’s Project.
16-year-old Toby from Norfolk, was born 13-weeks premature causing cerebral palsy and dystonia which now requires 24/7 palliative care.
In order to create a safe and accessible downstairs bedroom and ensuite to facilitate the care Toby needs, the family had acquired DFG funding from the local council to complete an extension and renovation of their home, with father Shaun carrying out the works himself, while also working full-time as an electrician.
Sadly on Christmas Eve 2024, father of six and grandfather of two Shaun took his own life. With the family processing immeasurable grief, all while living in a building site, Band of Builders stepped in to help mum Sarah with the completion of Toby’s bedroom and wet room.
In March 2025, AKW were proudly part of a large-scale aid donation and renovation of a residential care home in the Ukraine which was facilitated by Yorkshire Aid Convoy.
Along with several other suppliers, AKW donated items to help improve the quality of life offered at a care home, where residents had not been able to bathe in years, with many lacking access to hot water, working toilets, heating, clean clothes and bedding.
Over 12 days, volunteers redecorated and furnished bedrooms with donated furniture, bedding and televisions, a new boiler was fitted to provide much-needed hot water, a kitchen was installed to provide residents and carers with a safe space to prepare food, a stairlift was provided to offer greater accessibility for residents who previously struggled up stairs, old toilets were replaced, and a walk-in bath as well as a level-access wet room were supplied to offer residents dignity they have been without for far too long.
Image credit: Clare Brophy.
Unveiled in the spring of 2025 was a brand-new bench at Curragh’s Wildlife Park which has been proudly sponsored by the team at DLP, who regularly volunteer at the park.
Curragh’s is a popular wildlife and safari park located on the Isle of Man, from which the newly-installed bench offers a beautiful view of water-loving cats who reside at the park.
The bench has been installed as part of the ‘Traa dy Liooar’ project, inspired by the famous Manx Gaelic phrase that translates to “time enough” or “time to spare” in English. The phrase reflects the island’s relaxed pace and encourages slowing down appreciating the present moment.
In February 2025, AKW donated a selection of waterproof coats, walking boots and warm items of outdoor clothing to Blackpool Coastal Housing to enable young people in their care to be active and enjoy the great outdoors, even during the coldest winter months.
This follows a donation of £50 in December 2024, which went towards birthday presents for two residents of William Lyons House, a supported housing provision for vulnerable young people in Blackpool owned by BCH.
Three AKW volunteers also spent a day decorating a new tenant’s flat in December 2024 as part of BCH’s ‘Positive Transitions’ pathway service, which provides tailored, intensive tenancy management and life coaching for young people leaving care to help them become successful tenants and positive contributors to the community.
In January 2025, AKW donated an ActivMotion Rise & Fall Table to Laurus Ryecroft Secondary School in Manchester, for student Ava, who is the daughter of AKW Surveyor Mark, and is studying for her Art GCSE.
Ava has Cerebral Palsy presented as right-sided Hemiplegia and has difficulties using her right arm and hand, which caused her to struggle when using the classroom table provided due to the height restriction it presented.
An AKW ActivMotion Rise & Fall Table, which adjusts height at the touch of a button, was donated to the school and has allowed Ava to work from both a seated and standing position. Furthermore, it will grow with her as she moves through school, and will allow other students with similar struggles to get the support they need both now and long after Ava has moved onto further study.
Ava said: “I love how the table allows me stand, but also lowers when I need to sit due to tiredness, I really like it – thank you!”
In October 2024, AKW partnered with mobility specialists Clark & Partners to donate an accessible bathroom to Home Instead Sheffield and Barnsley’s new Training Centre of Excellence.
Home Instead provide a variety of home care services, including domiciliary, live in, palliative and specialist health care for people who need it. The centre will empower carers with hands-on, industry-leading training on advanced care equipment, ensuring they are equipped to provide the highest level of support to clients living in their own homes.
Clark & Partners generously installed a selection of AKW accessible bathroom products at the centre; we’re extremely proud to have supported the project which will enable people to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible.
AKW are extremely excited to have donated three fold-up support rails in white and five dark blue stainless-steel grab rails to the Worcester Snoezelen Centre, as several of their accessible bathrooms needed existing rails replacing.
Worcester Snoezelen is a leisure therapy centre offering a range of person-centred, multi-sensory activities that empower, bring joy, and help members make choices and communicate through alternative means.
Since installation in August 2024, staff at the centre have received excellent feedback on how smart the rails look, with the dark blue rails proving particularly useful as the colour contrast makes them easier to locate for people with visual impairment.
In June 2024, AKW’s Adam spent a day volunteering at the Age UK Dementia Day Centre in Doncaster (read more here). While supporting staff and engaging with clients, he noticed the centre was in need of a riser armchair to make sitting and standing not only more comfortable, but easier and safer too.
Following his visit, Adam reached out to local mobility specialists Clark and Partners to see if they could assist in sourcing a chair for this more than worthy cause. The Sheffield-based team kindly agreed to supply a riser armchair from their collection which was subsequently donated to the centre on behalf of AKW, meaning that visiting clients can now sit in comfort!
Thank you to Clark and Partners for their invaluable support with this project!
In 2023, AKW donated an accessible kitchen to Band of Builders, a charity who partner with industry leaders to provide construction workers and their families with practical, financial and well-being support in their hour of need.
Prior to the project, former builder and father of seven, Chris, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of spinal MS and subsequently struggled to navigate the kitchen, and had several falls trying to use his low-level oven. The Band of Builders team remodelled Chris’ kitchen to make it accessible and wheelchair friendly.
AKW donated a new bespoke kitchen worth approximately £20,000 and included a Rise & Fall worktop that houses a hob and sink, pull-down baskets, and pull-out larder which makes it easier for Chris to access cupboards.
The week-long project saw volunteer carpenters, plasterers, electricians, floor-layers, tilers and plumbers get involved to give Chris a kitchen which he can now safely move around and cook for his family in.
Amy who is in her 30s was involved in an accident that caused her to be paralysed from the waist down, meaning her entire way of life has changed. To help her with showering, AKW happily donated an Onyx Shower Seat and chrome-finished Grab Rails which Amy picked out herself.
The contemporary design of these products was primary the reason behind her choice, as they prevent her accessible bathroom from appearing cold and clinical, while still offering her the high level of functionality and safety elements she needs to wash independently.
After graduating from university, George, who requires the use of an electric wheelchair, began renting his first flat from Bromsgrove District Housing Trust. Unfortunately, the design of the flat’s existing kitchen wasn’t suitable for his needs and impeded his ability to use the space independently.
Keen to support George and the Trust, AKW suggested upcycling an existing kitchen installed in Solihull Borough Council’s assessment centre that was due to be upgraded, and then donating materials such as new worktops to complete the installation.
We also provided 3 volunteers, with AKW Business Development Managers Andy, Mike and Craig assisting with the removal of the adapted kitchen in Solihull, and Andy offering his services with the installation in George’s flat alongside a local contractor.