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Staff at a leading south west building company are to take on a cycle challenge to mark the start of a 5-year partnership with Children's Hospice South West.

Employees at the Jones Building Group are to get on their bikes in September for the cycle ride to raise money for (CHSW). The ride will mark the start of a 5-year partnership with the charity which will see the family-run business aim to raise vital funds and make valuable memories for the families who are reliant on CHSW. Jones Building Group was started in 1979 as DR Jones by David Jones as a painting and decorating business. Decades later, and now employing 240 people across the south west, the company has grown significantly and offers a range of services from painting and decorating, social housing refurbishment, small works, maintenance, fire safety solutions and construction. David remains as Jones Building Group chief executive officer. His three sons, Harry, Davey and Vinny all work for the company alongside their sister Lace.

The cycle ride will be the first major event as part of the partnership with CHSW, building on smaller events already held this year including a cream tea and a Euro 2024 sweepstake across all their sites. A tuck shop was also run at the firm’s Yeovil office, with all proceeds going to CHSW. Fundraising events will build towards Harry running his first ever London Marathon in April 2025 to raise money for the charity. 

Harry Turner, Director of Jones Building Group, said he was excited at partnering with CHSW as well as anxious about completing the 26.2 mile run around London.

Harry said: “I always remember visiting Charlton Farm as a youngster on a school trip and being touched by the effort and commitment of the hospice staff to help support families with young children experiencing their difficult journeys. I always remember the impact walking into the various rooms had on myself as a young visitor."

Now as a proud father of two healthy young boys, becoming a parent makes me even more determined to make a difference to families and young children who are experiencing difficult life changing journeys and require the support of this amazing charity.

"No matter how hard training is and the marathon itself, I will always be digging deep and drawing on the knowledge of my pain or suffering at that time will be nothing compared to how it must feel to be told your child is diagnosed with a life limiting condition."

The company, which has a head office in Yeovil as well as satellite offices in Portishead, Bodmin and Exeter, is well known for its commitment to the local communities in which it operates. As well as supporting local sporting clubs, including refurbishing club houses, the company also works with local schools and even runs a free school uniform ‘swap shop’ for local families struggling with the cost of living at its Yeovil headquarters. It has also supported local community gardening projects, providing labour and materials and works with Yeovil College, sponsoring courses and its sporting teams.

Jones Group Business Development manager Mark Robinson said: “It is important to us as a company to support and engage with our local communities, across the south west, in everything we do. 

The next five years is not just about Jones Building Group raising vital funds for Children’s Hospice South West, but more about how we as a company can affect those communities and make a positive impact on families lives and create positive memories for them along their difficult journey.

The cycle challenge will start at CHSW’s Little Harbour children’s hospice in St Austell and head towards the company’s Bodmin Office. From there, cyclists will ride to CHSW’s Little Bridge House children’s hospice in Barnstaple before heading towards Jones Group office in Exeter. Cyclists will then make their way to the Portishead office and visit Charlton Farm children’s hospice in Wraxall before making their way to Yeovil Rugby Cluib for a celebratory evening.

Jones Building Group has worked with CHSW in the past, revamping the nursery at Charlton Farm and building the new on-site car park. Various employees will be taking part in the fundraising ride alongside company CEO David Jones, with other members of staff following the cyclists as support staff providing refreshments and homemade cakes as fuel for the riders. For Jones Building Group the challenge will certainly not be the first challenging ride it has helped organise, having been instrumental in organising rides from Land’s End to John O’Groats, London to Paris and tours of Ireland and Isle of Wight.

“I love cycling,” said Mark, “it’s a real passion of mine. So with 8 weeks to go until we start our own cycle challenge I am back in training again.” The cycle challenge kicks off on September 25 and already 28 riders have signed up.

CHSW regional partnerships fundraiser Hayley Wallbank said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Jones Building Group have decided to enter into a 5 year partnership with CHSW.   

The families who use our hospice services are from those same local communities which Jones Building Group operates in, so the social impact is huge. Without wonderful supporters like Jones, we would not be able to offer the time and space for families, with a child with a life limiting illness, to spend precious time together to make memories to be cherished.