As part of our Social Value commitment, Nationwide Windows & Doors donated £2,000 worth of supermarket vouchers that were used to create Christmas Hampers for residents in Castle Vale.
Castle Vale is home to some of the most economically vulnerable families, meaning they can be severely impacted by cost of living rises and benefits caps. A 2024 study, funded by The University of Birmingham’s Centre on Household Assets (CHASM), found that rising food and energy costs have driven many Castle Vale families into “food and energy poverty” which has a severe impact on health and wellbeing.
As part of a plan to ‘bring joy to the Vale’ during Christmas 2025, The Pioneer Group – the community housing association that manages 2,500 homes in Castle Vale – were keen to assemble Christmas Hampers that could be distributed to families that had been nominated by local schools, visitors and welfare teams.
As well as offering crucial nutrition, and some Christmas treats, the hampers helped to reinforce neighbourhood solidarity, as ‘Joy to the Vale’ distributions received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
