In 2024, the Goonvean Group renewed our focus on giving back to the communities that support us. We committed to raising money for our chosen charity partners, The Children’s Hospice South West and The Rotherham Hospice.
It’s been an exciting year of charity fundraising across the entire Goonvean Group. To celebrate this – and fundraise even more – back in July we held a special Group-wide event called the Goonvean Games.
Why did we hold the Goonvean Games?
Our group values were developed over the course of the year by our managing directors. These values include a commitment to being caring, connected, and courageous as a Group. The Goonvean Games were born out of an idea to hold an event that fulfilled all three of these values.
The Games raised money for charity, welcomed everyone from across our Group, and connected all of our businesses – whilst providing an platform for some bold shows of sporting prowess.
It was the first real opportunity our employees across all the Goonvean Group have had to come together and get to know each other. It was great to witness the camaraderie fostered within each of the teams from across the Group. After the games had been played and everyone settled into the hog roast, it was wonderful to see employees from Braunton and Cornwall chatting over a drink.
Our thanks to our supporters
We were very grateful to Cullompton Cricket Club for their support and generosity. They allowed us use of their facilities for the afternoon, prepped the pitch, and made sure the bar was up and running.
We also held a groupwide raffle on the day, with prizes kindly donated from our Group’s suppliers and associates – a huge thanks to them. With their help, we raised a phenomenal £1190 from the raffle alone.
We’d also like to offer our thanks to all our suppliers who donated to the raffle:
- Cognique
- Devon Contractors
- Goosemoor Farm
- ICD Energy Managers
- AP Build and Construction
- Devon Contractors
- Aon
- Expedite
- Pipers Farm
The Hog Roast was provided by North Devon Hog Roast, who we met earlier in the year at one of the Children’s Hospice South West’s business club events. Since this meeting, we have supported each other in both business and charity fundraising efforts. An enormous thanks to them as well.
The Goonvean Games awards and trophies
We had nine teams and approximately 100 people from across our businesses join us on the day, as well as team members from Children’s Hospice South West, Cullompton Cricket Club, and Cullompton Lawn Boules Club.
At the start of the day, certificates were handed out to commend Group members for their extraordinary fundraising efforts:
- our Three Peaks participants
- Patricia Tossell from North Devon Electronics, for raising over £600 for her skydive
We also awarded certificates to our Charity Champions, members of each business that have volunteered for the role of championing the charity efforts within their organisation. Our Charity Champions are:
- Katie Ovenden from Goonvean Goup
- Adriana Machova from Foundry & Fabrication
- Lindsey Strange and Jo Truscott from Goonvean Aggregates
- Katie Crumpton from RH Fibreboard Containers
- Emma Newton from Dura-ID
- Will Hartley from Goonvean Fibres
- Doug Turnbull from North Devon Electronics
After the certificates were awarded, it was time to get down the serious business of sport. One of the biggest competitions of the day was softball – with the tantalising offer of a shiny trophy awarded to the winning team.
Every team played two matches. After this, the two highest scoring teams battled it out in the final game. The majority of the players who made it into the final teams were from RH Fibreboard, with support from Equinoxx and North Devon Electronics.
Ultimately, RHF won the gloating rights over the rest of the Group. They got to take home the Goonvean Games softball trophy, which now takes pride of place in their boardroom.
