Fourth-generation family-owned The Cleenol Group, a manufacturer and supplier of commercial and industrial cleaning and hygiene products, has enjoyed a close bond for many years with a much-loved local hospice…
Cleenol Group is one of the UK’s longest established manufacturers and suppliers of quality cleaning and hygiene products. The fourth-generation family-owned company – based in Banbury, Oxon – has established a strong reputation for its Lift and British Nova brands, Evolution super concentrates and for its ability to produce high quality private label products. Also an exporter to more than 40 countries, Cleenol boasts a varied client portfolio including local authorities, Government departments and appointed distributors throughout the UK and worldwide, as well as wholesalers and stockists in a range of marketplaces. The sectors it supplies to include cleaning and FM, hospitality, laundry, hotels and housekeeping, manufacturing, construction and flooring contractors, automotive and transport, tourism and leisure, education, healthcare and hairdressing.
Katharine House Hospice was officially opened by HRH The Princess of Wales in October 1991. Since then the hospice in Adderbury, near Banbury, has met the emotional, physical and medical needs of thousands of people affected by life-limiting illnesses. Local girl Katharine Gadsby was aged only 20 when her life was cruelly cut short by cancer. She had told her father, Neil, that she did not want to die in a hospital bed so she spent her last days at home as no other option was available. Her untimely death set her father and friends on a six-year journey to raise sufficient funds to build a place that cares for people during their toughest times. Today, care at the ten-bed hospice is led by consultants in palliative medicine and specialist nurses, while the hospice also offers a range of day services and care in the community.
Cleenol’s strong ties to hospice
Cleenol’s association with Katharine House Hospice dates back to its foundation. The headmaster at Katharine Gadsby’s school was Ken Greaves, grandfather of current MD of Cleenol Group, Sam Greaves. Ken, a long-time friend of Neil Gadsby, read at Katharine’s funeral and also assisted Neil in the acquisition of the land on which the hospice was built. Sam’s father, Richard Greaves, and predecessor as Cleenol’s MD, was a trustee for over 15 years, and took over as chairman of the hospice when Neil retired.
Over the last eight years Cleenol has been providing the hospice with a variety of cleaning products – all free of charge – and saving it £5,000 a year. The products include toilet maintainers and descalers, cream cleaners, sanitisers, wax free polishes and lift spray cleaners with bactericides.
Also, since 2014, Cleenol has donated over £20,000 to the hospice through employee fundraising and various sponsorship activities. These have included midnight walks, Christmas raffles, sponsorship of Christmas cards, ‘Bring a £1 to Work Day’, collection boxes placed in Cleenol’s reception, ‘Care for A Cuppa’, an accumulator challenge, a gala dinner held at nearby Blenheim Palace, sponsorship of newsletters and donated profits from sales of scrap metal and office products.
Fundraising key to hospice’s future
Trevor Johnson, CEO at Katharine House Hospice, said: “We still enjoy working closely together as a partnership, with Cleenol also sponsoring our hospice projects and through employee fundraising. We are very much looking forward to the partnership growing and celebrating Cleenol’s 75th anniversary next year.
“The hospice simply would not exist without the support from our local businesses, like Cleenol. Indeed, Cleenol provide more than just support, they are a partnership with the hospice providing gifts in kind, sponsorship and fundraising.
“They are a company that share the same values as the hospice which is why we work so well together and we are proud to be a partnership with them.
“Cleenol as a business are very passionate and committed to supporting the local community and by supporting the community, they, in turn, support both their staff and clients”.
