Goodyear workers give almost 4.5K to children's charity
Former Goodyear workers have donated almost £4,500 worth of toys and equipment to a city-based charity.
Workers from the former factory that closed last year, paid for the items through their 5/344 Transport and General Workers Sick and Distress Fund.
A total of £4,409.21 worth of equipment was given along with additional shelving from the former Goodyear plant, based on Bushbury Lane, and some computer items.
The toys, sensory play equipment and other items were donated to charity Let Us Play which provides sports, arts, play and outings for children with special needs and disabilities in Wolverhampton and the surrounding areas.
Claire McKen of the charity said: "We cannot thank the former Goodyear workers enough for what they have provided us and the 168 children and young people we support.
"The toys, hockey and curling sets will really go some way in encouraging the children to develop and refine their motor skills, their sporting abilities and also to provide inclusive and engaging play.
"We believe that no child deserves to be picked last during sport, or to feel like they don't have friends. This equipment will provide more opportunity for the children to engage in sport and play that is meaningful to them."
Staff at the charity found out about the former Goodyear workers' fund for equipment through an advert in the Express and Star.
Claire continued: "We were visited by the chair of the Unite branch, Cyril Barrett, who found out all about us and saw what we did. Then he told us to write a wish list of what we wanted. I expected to only get around a third of what we asked for. I couldn't believe it when he got back to us to say we could have the whole lot."
Cyril Barrett, chair of the Unite branch at Goodyear said: "We were so deeply touched by the charity and the drive of the charity to do what they do.
"The charity not only gives disabled children meaningful activities to do, it also provides some respite for their families - which is really important."
The donation comes as earlier this year, the workers donated a van and cookers to The Good Shepherd Ministry as part of their on going charitable giving.
Whilst in November last year, the workers gave £1 million to the city's Compton Hospice which cares for some of Wolverhampton's most ill people.
In 2015, Goodyear made the devastating announcement that it was to close with with 330 jobs to be lost.
The remaining workers left the Goodyear site on December 20 last year, whilst a close-down period is continuing until around June/July this year.
The former workers are still appealing for charities and community groups that would like to receive a donation of equipment to come forward.
To apply, write to Cyril Barrett, 5/344 Transport and General Workers Sick and Distress Fund, Care of the Union Office, Goodyear Dunlop Tyres Ltd, Bushbury Lane, Wolverhampton, WV10 9TT.
