Setting the bar high for local charity support

Phil Gudgeon, the new managing director of Cawleys Waste Management recently visited local children’s charity Ride High to inspire young people to aim high, no matter what their perceived limitations or what start they had in life.

Phil began his career as a driver’s mate on a waste collection round and now leads over 200 people and a multi-million pound business, Cawleys, one of Luton’s largest employers.

Phil visited the charity and children to share his story and give advice on how they can achieve their full potential. During his visit he also told the children about the Extra Mile Challenge, a 500-mile cycling event in France that he and a team of three others completed in September. Phil bought the challenge to life with a combination of stories, photos and video footage of the challenge and the children were full of questions.

Cawleys relationship with Ride High is a great example of how local businesses can support worthwhile causes in their local area. Cawleys not only participates in fundraising events for the charity, it also collects waste from the Ride High Equestrian Centre (Ride High’s home) and educates the youngsters about the importance of recycling and caring for the environment.

Speaking at Ride High, Phil said:

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I was young, but found I loved working where you have great camaraderie and are rewarded for doing a job well. I thoroughly enjoy my work and am delighted to have been appointed MD of Cawleys.

He continued:

“I hope I can use my position to inspire others, and Ride High is a charity which does just that, inspiring and helping youngsters to turn their lives round, so it’s a real pleasure to support them.”

In September, Cawleys sent a team of four cyclists, including Phil, to France and raised a whopping £4,060 for charity thanks to the generous support of friends, family and kind customers and suppliers. The money will be shared between Ride High and another local charity, CHUMS.

Helen Dixon, marketing and fundraising manager at Ride High, commented:

“Based in Milton Keynes, Ride High is a registered charity that transforms the lives of underprivileged and vulnerable teens, by giving them the opportunity to learn to ride and care for horses.

“It was wonderful to welcome Phil to help inspire the children. Hearing about his own personal journey and the Extra Mile Challenge showed them that it doesn’t matter where you start, and definitely gave them hope and encouragement to achieve their own goals in the future.”