The foundation supported 48 employee-led projects which alleviate fuel poverty, digital poverty, social isolation, and loneliness, as well as environmentally focused initiatives.

In addition, the foundation supported the creation and regeneration of 60 public green spaces in the local communities where Mears Group operates. The spaces were designed to enhance the physical and mental wellbeing of residents, create a space for communities to come together, and promote sustainability.

The Mears Foundation has a national partnership with FareShare, the UK’s longest-running food redistribution charity. The Foundation’s support enabled the charity to directly redistribute over 235 tonnes of food, enough for more than 560,000 meals, to communities in need across the UK.

Heather Tyrer, general manager of the Mears Foundation, said: “Supporting the communities in which Mears Group operates and empowering local people to create their own initiatives through our grants is at the heart of what we do.

“Our commitment is not limited to funding alone, our teams actively engage with local communities, collaborating with community leaders and volunteering to ensure the success of these initiatives. I want to thank everyone who has collaborated with us to deliver these projects for their hard work and commitment. Working together, we achieved a fantastic amount in 2023, and I look forward to continuing our work this year.”