The Bradford-based labelling manufacturer has signed up to be the main sponsor of a charity sleep-out event, which is organised by Centrepoint and held in support of homeless young people in the city.
Centrepoint works with more than 300 homeless 16-25 year olds in the Bradford district. Its aim is to support every young person that enters Centrepoint accommodation into their own home and a job.
The event is taking place on 12 November at The Provident Stadium. Participants are asked to swap their bed for a sleeping bag and spend the night sleeping in the stands at the ground to give them a better idea of some of the challenges faced by young people that have been forced to sleep rough in the city.
The firm’s managing director Dale Deacon was the top individual fundraiser last year.
He said: “We are delighted to support this fantastic local event. It’s a pleasure to continue supporting our local community and to do what we can to try and help these vulnerable young people to build a better future.”
Centrepoint regional fundraising manager Faye Edmondson added: “We’re delighted to have Watermill Press on board as our main sponsor. Their support has enabled us to reduce the cost of registration to just £20 per person this year.
“We rely on the support of the local community and business network to raise the funds we need to provide the vital services that ensure young people are able to live independent futures.”
Separately, Watermill Press has also pledged to support the Trussell Trust’s Bradford Central Foodbank for as long as the service is needed in the city.
The firm has been providing the charity with a regular monthly income since October 2014 and has now committed to supporting it permanently.
Watermill Press print bureau director Sandra Carr said: “It is depressing that such services are needed but while we have been trying to help out it is also inspiring to see the wonderful volunteers and staff at Bradford Central Foodbank working so hard to alleviate people’s suffering.”
Demand for the foodbank from people in central Bradford has increased by 25% since last year.
Watermill Press is a certified living wage employer with 26 members of staff and a turnover of £7.5m. It manufactures product identification labels for clients in the food and soft drinks industries including Marks & Spencer, Britvic, Princes Food and the Robert McBride Group.
These clients use the firm’s labels to create high-quality barcodes for case and pallet identification.
The business recently installed 750 solar panels across the roof of its premises and invested £1m in three AB Graphic Omega label converting machines to support its continued growth. It also operates seven other Omega label presses and six desktop thermal label printers.
