MEMBERS NEWS 31

A charity supporting children and adults with autism has received a boost from a nearby company as it introduces more popular gaming sessions at its specialist centre in Crewe. Teenager Aiden Taylor, who has the condition and is a keen gamer, was the inspiration behind the donation to Autism Inclusive from security firm Alpha Omega based on Crewe Business Park. Aiden’s dad Andy Taylor, who is Operations Director at Alpha Omega, saw how much users of the centre loved attending the Monday night sessions and asked what the charity needed to expand them. Andy, from Crewe, said: “Aiden is 18 and will soon have to leave his specialist school in West Kirby but the one constant joy in his life is Autism Inclusive. He’s high functioning autistic and to the outside world people wouldn’t realise there’s an issue but everyday sound is one area where he struggles and he goes about in headphones. “Playing the Xbox is something he really loves and Autism Inclusive has its own Gaming Area where he can be around other young people playing games and making friends with a similar interest. Alpha Omega does a lot for local charities but this one is very close to my heart of course and we arranged to pay for what they needed to expand the sessions.” Alpha Omega Managing Director Ken Lawton added: “I know what a tower of support the charity has been to Andy’s family over the years. It does great work in the local community and we’re delighted our donation will mean so much to the young gamers.” Autism Inclusive, based on Crewe’s Apollo Buckingham Health Science Campus, is now hosting two sessions every Monday evening from 5 to 7pm and 7.30 to 9.30pm for youngsters 14 and over. Co-Chairperson Elly Holstead: “To extend the gaming sessions we needed external hard drives so the players can save where they are up to and load more games. Alpha Omega kindly stepped in with the best part of £500 to pay for these. Obviously items for our Gaming Area are not cheap so we are tremendously grateful for this fantastic support.” Alpha Omega, a major employer of more than 230 South Cheshire people, provides mobile security, static guards, CCTV monitoring and keyholding services for a wide range of high-profile companies and local authorities. Autism Inclusive is just one of the charities supported this year. At the height of the pandemic the company arranged food drops for mothers and children in rural African communities and it remains a regular supporter of Leighton Hospital’s Lost Little Ones appeal to create a suite on the labour ward for bereaved parents.

_ For more on Alpha Omega services visit www.alphaomegauk.com

Ken Lawton and Andy Taylor of security company Alpha Omega meet up with the team at Autism Inclusive in Crewe

A charity golf day organised by The County Group was a big success at Wychwood Park Hotel & Golf Club. Left to right are Karl Garcia, Chris Hoesli, Alastair Christopherson and Andy Worth from the company’s first team

Major South Cheshire employer The County Group swung back into action with a charity golf day to support a cause close to the heart of colleagues. The insurance specialist drew 14 teams of golfers from across the region to a tournament staged at Wychwood Park Hotel & Golf Club in Crewe to boost funds for the mental health charity Mind. A grand sum of £2,740 was raised which included a very generous bid at auction by Steve Smith, Managing Director from Guardian Insurance, for the prize of lessons with golf pro Ben Hallam. Teams, comprising of more than 50 people from businesses such Kindertons Accident Management, GMS Group, Global Risk Partners and Rawlins Insurance, played 18 holes. There were prizes for Beat the Pro, Nearest Pin, Longest Drive, Individual first, second and third and overall team winners. First were Guardian Insurance, second GMS Group and third, Kindertons Accident Management. Alastair Christopherson, Group Managing Director, said: “Over the years the golf day has raised more than £40,000 for charities nominated by employees at our Crewe office. “These efforts underline our mission statement of giving back to the community where we live and do business. It fosters team spirit and creates a sense of pride in working for a company that takes its corporate social responsibility seriously. “Postponed last year due to the pandemic, there was great enthusiasm to organise the golf day and return to the fairways. We were very lucky with the weather, the sun shone for most of the day despite the forecasted rain, making it even better. Well done to all of our winners and thank you to everyone who attended the day.”

_ The County Group, based on Crewe Business Park, is a long-standing sponsor of Nantwich Town FC and Nantwich Cricket Club. For more information on insurance products go to www.countyins.com

Park View Business Centre has welcomed several new faces to its rural setting on the Cheshire/ Shropshire border. Like many office providers Park View, located at Combermere, saw a dip in demand as a direct result of the pandemic but now there’s an uplift as businesses get back to ‘normal’ and take advantage of the facilities. Managing Director Peter Beckett said: "Unfortunately, we lost about 15% of our tenants in the last year but I am delighted to say that we seem to have turned a corner and new enquiries have started again. Last week alone, we signed up two new companies, we have attracted back someone who used to have an office with us three years ago, and we have helped an existing tenant with taking two further spaces to meet their expansion. “Our co-sharing space has had some take up and we suspect that those people working for larger, city-centre based organisations will be considering how best to set up a hybrid way of working in the future - part main office and part closer to/at home. It's terrific that there are some green shoots showing." Park View Business Centre has also made itself available for hosting special weekend events. It was the venue for Dachshing Doggies, organised by its resident dog-groomer and is set to welcome enthusiasts to the latest in a series of Classic Car events.

_ Park View has availability for people looking to run their businesses from its beautifully converted Cheshire brick barns. There’s superfast broadband up to 100 mbs plus an on-site gym and café. For more information visit www.parkviewbusinesscentre.co.uk