Bentley Motors has hosted its second annual Charity Thank You event, bringing together charities, community partners and volunteers to recognise the extraordinary contribution they make to communities across Crewe and the UK.
Sixty local charities that have received direct support from Bentley’s community investment programmes were invited to the event, alongside members of the Bentley Board and Bentley Charities Committee. The occasion provided an opportunity for organisations to build connections, share best practice and celebrate the collective impact being delivered across the sector.
The event centred around celebrating volunteers in the community and builds on Bentley’s first Charity Thank You event, introduced in 2025, which recognised community partners. Awards were presented to those ‘Relentlessly Extraordinary’ volunteers who demonstrate Bentley’s values for People, Innovation and Collaboration.
Sally Hepton, Director of Government Relations and Sustainable Luxury at Bentley Motors, said:
“This event is an important opportunity for Bentley to say thank you to the remarkable volunteers’ charities and partners whose dedication improves the lives of so many in our local community. It is wonderful to be able to recognise individuals and teams and to highlight how lives can be changed, for the better, through individual and communal action. Thank you to everyone who supports charities in Crewe and beyond. Your commitment makes such a difference.”
The People in the Community Award was presented to Richard Street, a volunteer with Pure Insight, in recognition of his compassion, reliability and life-changing support for care-experienced young people. Pure Insight supports young care-leavers by providing practical and emotional support to help them build confidence, develop skills and shape their futures.
Richard has provided practical assistance, stability and consistent emotional support to young people facing challenges including homelessness, isolation and trauma. His contribution has ranged from providing transport to training, work and volunteering opportunities to helping young people develop confidence, everyday skills and greater independence.
Richard Street said:
“I feel truly honoured and grateful to receive this recognition. Supporting and mentoring young people is something that has always been very close to my heart. Every young person deserves to feel encouraged and reminded that they have the potential to achieve great things no matter what challenges they face. For me, mentoring is about more than offering guidance; it is about listening, building confidence and helping young people believe in themselves and their future. This award is dedicated to the young people who continue to inspire me every day through their resilience, determination and ambition.”
The Innovation in the Community Award was presented to Gill Thompson, who has been pivotal to the running of the YMCA’s Sherborne Hub in Crewe for seven years. YMCA are a charity who help young people and communities to thrive across England and Wales via a range of services including support and advice, youth work, education and training and family hub spaces.
Gill Thompson was recognised for her resourceful approach to meeting community needs, including establishing a direct relationship with local supermarket, Morrisons to secure a regular supply of donated food and essential goods. She also secures £500 annually through Lloyds Bank to support community activities and provides administrative assistance with risk assessments and impact data, enabling staff to focus on frontline services.
The Collaboration in the Community Award was presented to MyCWA’s ‘Team Narnia’. Their team’s name comes from their role in looking after an enormous space, which exists behind one door in their Crewe base, that houses an extraordinary collection of items destined to support charities and community organisations. This award recognised the extraordinary volunteers’ teamwork, reliability and continued support for MyCWA who provide a range of support for survivors of domestic abuse and their families.
The volunteer team manages donations for MyCWA’s charity shop and directly or survivors, maintains vital food and toiletry banks and prepares clothing and other essentials with care and sensitivity. The team also coordinates significant volumes of donations during the Christmas period, helping to ensure that survivors and families receive consistent and dignified support at a particularly challenging time.
Carole Warburton, a volunteer from MyCWA and member of ‘Team Narnia’ said:
“We never dreamed of receiving an award like this. With so many incredible volunteers and organisations supporting communities across the region, to be recognised in this way means a great deal to us. The power of partnership and a shared commitment to ensuring survivors can access practical, compassionate support when they need it most is what drives our work every day.”
Bentley’s community investment activity recognises that lasting impact depends on the experience, commitment and trusted relationships of charities and volunteers. By bringing organisations together, the Charity Thank You event allows Bentley to express its gratitude to the third sector while creating new opportunities for collaboration and shared learning.
The event also reinforces Bentley’s commitment to creating a positive legacy across its local community. Through strategic partnerships, community investment programmes and colleague-led activities, Bentley continues to support organisations responding to immediate needs while helping individuals and communities build long-term resilience.
