As Tony Giddings steps down after ten years as a trustee to the construction industry's charity, John O'Grady, Commercial Director of the Building Division at VolkerFitzpatrick, will take over from him as Deputy Chair of the CRASH Board of Trustees, while David McGarry, HR Director at British Gypsum, joins the charity's Board.

Giddings, who is Director & Partner at Argent LLP, which he joined in 1998, has supported CRASH since it began 25 years ago. He said: "I have been proud to contribute to this brilliant charity. CRASH has delivered hundreds of construction projects which have vastly improved the facilities for homelessness and hospice organisations throughout the country.

“Much more assistance is still needed, but I leave with the confidence that with the ongoing support of the Corporate Patron companies and an enthusiastic and efficient management team, many more vital projects will be delivered in future years."

John O'Grady has spent almost 25 years at VolkerFitzpatrick, and for five years, the business has been a Corporate Patron of CRASH. VolkerFitzpatrick has provided much-needed fundraising, with its recent Golf Day raising over £19,000, and is currently leading its fourth construction project for CRASH.  

O'Grady stated: "By working with CRASH, we can provide a unique service – charities typically have little experience of construction and can't fund specialist expertise. CRASH and VolkerFitzpatrick provide this expertise for free.

“We're involved at every stage – planning, design, construction, and handover – to ensure charities get long-term value for money from their donations and grants. Furthermore, CRASH's strong governance ensures we don't just maximise the value of contributions from CRASH's Corporate Patrons and supporters – we also maximise the value of donations received by the charity from other organisations and individuals."

David McGarry, HR Director at British Gypsum, who is joining the charity's Board of Trustees, has more than 30 years of experience in Human Resources – six of those with British Gypsum, and is a founding Corporate Patron of CRASH charity.

McGarry said: “I am extremely proud that British Gypsum is supporting the needs of many people who benefit from the fantastic work that CRASH do in transforming their lives and making a real difference.

“British Gypsum has a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR), with an emphasis on working as part of our communities. What inspires me about CRASH, is their ability to create a foundation from which people can grow, providing things that we can all take for granted such as safety, shelter, and dignity. We can help by providing construction products, services and skills to projects that make a real difference and create a lasting legacy.”

CRASH has 32 Corporate Patrons from across the construction and property industry. The charity’s Chairman Alan Brookes, Chief Global Operating Officer at Arcadis, heads a strong board of trustees with a singular focus: uniting the industry's passion, skills and resources to create vital places that care for the sick, vulnerable and homeless across the UK.

Brookes added: "CRASH is a beacon of good governance and charitable work for the construction industry. Getting involved with CRASH makes a difference to your business.

“People recognise your company is serious about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), giving something back to the communities in which you work and making a difference in the world in which we all live. It also makes your organisation one that people are proud to work for.”

“But for me it is the feedback from the people that get involved in fundraising, using their professional expertise to help on projects, or secondment to CRASH that is the most rewarding. They get a great sense of pride that they have been involved with something that has made a lasting difference."