Last week, members of the JSM team spent the day volunteering at the Barking Foodbank, supporting the charity’s vital work within the local community.

The team kicked off the day with a food run at ASDA, using a £400 budget to purchase essential supplies requested by the Foodbank. They then spent the remainder of the day categorising, dating and organising stock in the warehouse to help streamline operations ahead of a busy period.

The Foodbank’s Operations Manager, Funmi Ikele, shared her appreciation for the ongoing support:

JSM has supported our food bank faithfully for the past 3 years, volunteering at our warehouse. We appreciate every time they come because the help get so much work done. This time around, they came with a budget of £400 helping us to get much needed food items. We are so glad to see so many regular faces and we look forward to a continued partnership.

Alongside this volunteer effort, JSM will be collecting food donations throughout the month of April at both of our main sites in Potters Bar and River Road. All of which will be passed directly to the Barking Foodbank to support individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. This forms a key part of JSM’s annual commitment to giving back and supporting the communities where we work.

Reflecting on the ongoing initiative, JSM’s Environmental Manager, Claire Parsons, who organises the event each year, shared the following:

As Funmi shared, JSM has supported the Foodbank for the past three years, and the need for food assistance has grown sharply in that time. Our volunteers were struck by how low stock levels were this year, which prompted us to take further action. We’re launching a donation initiative to help replenish essential items, with a dedicated QR code and cash donation points at Potters Bar and River Road. JSM will match the total raised, enabling us to purchase priority supplies and deliver them to local collection points. We remain committed to supporting our communities and helping ensure vital services like the Barking Foodbank can continue their important work.

The day was a great success and further strengthens JSM’s long-standing relationship with the Barking Foodbank, reaffirming our dedication to supporting meaningful causes and making a positive impact within the communities we serve.

At JSM, we’re proud to empower our people to support the causes they care about through our Community Grant scheme. One recent project comes from Oliver Wales, Project Manager at JSM, who applied successfully for funding on behalf of his local allotment community, an initiative focused on improving shared spaces, protecting crops, and creating long‑term sustainability for all plot holders. 

Thanks to the grant, the allotment was able to rent an excavator for a weekend in December to dig the trenches required for a brand-new shared chicken coop. Since then, volunteers have been hard at work, and the boundary fencing was fully installed just last weekend. Once complete, the coop will be shared between allotment holders, with a rotational care system and plans for up to 12 chickens, providing participating members with fresh eggs daily. Final touches, including securing the perimeter with chicken wire, will take place over the coming months, with hopes of welcoming the chickens later this summer. 

The larger portion of the funding went toward purchasing as many fence posts and as much chicken wire as possible to protect three vulnerable plots that were facing ongoing damage from rabbits. Through savvy negotiating with local suppliers, the team managed to stretch the budget far beyond expectations, enough to fence six plots in total, doubling the original plan. This included repairing an older plot in need of attention and fencing two additional plots whose owners didn’t expect to be included. They were thrilled with the outcome. 

Committee Chairman, Peter Smith, shared this message of thanks: 

Last week, we were delighted to support Latton Green Primary Academy in Harlow following their call to help to enhance outdoor creative play. The school reached out requesting items such as cones, barriers, signs and other resources the children could use to spark imagination during outdoor learning. We were pleased to donate a Road Safety Kit to help them create a fun, engaging and educational play environment.

The school shared their appreciation, saying:

The road safety kit has already made a fantastic impact on the children’s play and learning. They’ve loved using the signs, cones and barriers to create ‘road works’, redesign scooter routes, and work together, supporting teamwork, communication and early road safety awareness. We’re incredibly grateful for your generosity.

Community support is an important part of what we do at JSM, and we’re proud to play a small part in helping local schools enrich their pupils’ learning experiences.

A huge well done to all our incredible JSM employees who took part in the Thames Bridges Trek this weekend!

Together, they’ve raised an amazing total of £4430 so far for the Dragonfly Cancer Trust, supporting young cancer patients across the UK.

We chose this challenge not just for its scenic route, but because it holds special meaning for us. JSM Group was founded in London in 1998, and our early success came from being one of the few companies with the expertise to deliver complex utility infrastructure projects in the capital’s challenging urban landscape. Walking across the very bridges that span the city where our journey began made this trek especially meaningful.

Congratulations to all the employees for completing the trek and a massive thank you to everyone who has donated to such an incredible cause.

This week, our team came together to support a cause close to many hearts. From homemade cakes and sweet treats to generous donations, the spirit of giving was truly alive. Whether baking or donating, everyone played a part, and together we raised over £350 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

This event is just one example of JSM’s ongoing commitment to charitable causes. In the last two months alone, the team has raised an incredible £5,000 for charity. It’s a testament to the generosity, compassion, and community spirit that runs through everything we do.

A huge thank you to all our colleagues who got involved. Your kindness and creativity made this event a real success!

As part of JSM Group’s ongoing commitment to charitable initiatives, two of our colleagues, Samantha Monk and Doug Monk, are gearing up for the Thames Bridges Trek 2025, a 25km challenge through the heart of London in support of the Dragonfly Cancer Trust. 

We asked them a few questions about their motivations and preparations for the event: 

What inspired you to sign up for the Thames Trek?
JSM have kindly provided grants to a couple of causes that are important to us over the years and so we were keen to give something back. It also gave us an incentive to increase our fitness and get outside more whilst raising money for a fantastic cause. 

Have you ever done a charity walk or trek before? 
Doug has taken part in half marathons and an SAS ultra challenge previously; however, this is the first time for both of us taking part in a trek. 

What are you most looking forward to about the day? 
We are looking forward to the physical challenge, engaging with colleagues that we haven’t previously encountered, and the sense of achievement (and beverages) at the finish line. 

How have you been preparing for the trek – any training or gear tips?
We have been increasing our walking distances over a period of weeks since signing up; the kids and the dogs have never had to walk so far in their lives and will probably be glad when it’s over. 

12 JSM employees are proudly taking part in the trek to raise funds for Dragonfly Cancer Trust, with an impressive £2,550 raised so far! This is just one example of JSM’s ongoing commitment to giving back. The company has already donated over £6,334 to charitable causes this year alone. If you’d like to support the team’s efforts, donations can be made here.

We’re proud to support their journey and wish them all the best as they take on this inspiring challenge. Keep an eye out for updates and photos from the day! 

In the spirit of Volunteer Week, a dedicated group of JSM volunteers spent the day at Fair Havens Hospice in Southend, contributing their time and energy to help maintain the hospice grounds.

The team focused on weeding and pruning key areas around the facility, starting with the ambulance bay and later moving on to clear the walkways and car park. Their efforts aimed to create a more welcoming and pleasant environment for both residents and visitors.

Each year in the UK, Volunteers’ Week is celebrated from the first Monday of June. It’s a dedicated time to recognise the invaluable contributions of volunteers across the country. This national celebration not only honours the time and effort given by volunteers but also raises awareness of the vital role volunteering plays in strengthening communities and supporting essential services.

Fair Havens Hospice, part of Havens Hospices, provides compassionate care and support to adults living with complex or incurable conditions in Southend. Their services are completely free of charge and tailored to meet the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs of patients and their families. Whether delivered at the hospice or in the comfort of a patient’s home, their care helps people make the most of every day, from diagnosis through to end-of-life support.

Corporate Volunteering is an excellent way for businesses to get involved with the community they operate in and help make everyday count for the families we care for. A family’s first visit to Little Havens or Fair Havens is often a huge step, so first impressions are important. We’re so grateful to the businesses who support our team of garden volunteers, by spending a day tending to our gardens, so they offer a welcoming and relaxing environment for patients, families, visitors, staff and volunteers.

said Amy Bell, Corporate Volunteering lead. By the end of the day, the transformation was clear. The walkways were completely weed-free, and the hospice grounds looked refreshed and cared for. It was a long day of physical work, but one filled with purpose and camaraderie. For many of the volunteers, it was a deeply rewarding experience, one to remember. The team looks forward to returning in the future to continue supporting the hospice and the wider community. At JSM, we take great pride in the social and environmental impact of our volunteer initiatives. Every employee is encouraged to give back, with two paid volunteering days per year to support a cause of their choice. So far in 2025, our team has contributed 128 hours of volunteering, and we’re committed to growing that number as we continue to support meaningful causes across the UK.