VolkerHighways supports 13 charities in 2025 through Close Call donations
We’re proud to have supported 13 local and national charities in 2025 through our Close Call donation scheme. As part of our Protect Our People approach, Close Calls give employees and subcontractors at VolkerHighways the chance to identify and address safety concerns before they lead to harm or damage. We actively encourage reporting of both positive and negative Close Calls to share best practices and lessons learned.
Giving back to the community is at the heart of what we do. That’s why, for every Close Call raised, we donate £1 to charity. To make sure our support reaches the communities where we work, each contract team selects a charity that is either local to them or personally meaningful.
Thanks to this commitment, in 2025 we recorded an impressive 3,480 Close Calls across all contracts - an increase of 84% compared to 2024. This achievement reflects our dedication to safety and our ongoing effort to make a positive impact.
The charities on each of our contracts we support are:
Alma Beacon - Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Alma Beacon encompasses three vital projects that provide essential support to the vulnerable members of the Windsor community. These projects are Windsor Street Angels, Windsor Homeless Project, and Windsor Foodshare.
Demelza - Medway
Demelza provides clinical care and wraparound support for children and young people with serious or life-limiting conditions, and their families.
National Animal Welfare Trust - West Berkshire
National Animal Welfare Trust is a rescue and rehoming charity. They are working towards a world where every pet thrives in a loving home.
Dingley’s Promise - BCP
Supporting children in the early years with special educational needs and disabilities to achieve their full potential.
South West Children’s Hospice - BaNES and Somerset
Providing hospice care for babies, children and young people living with life-limiting conditions and their whole family this includes hospice stays, emergency care, palliative care and end of life care.
Mates in Mind – VolkerTraffic Management
Mates in Mind is a leading UK charity raising awareness, improving understanding, implementing effective interventions and addressing the stigma of mental ill-health.
Berkshire Search and Rescue - Wokingham
The official search and rescue team supporting Thames Valley Police in Berkshire. Operated entirely by highly trained volunteers, specialising in searching for high-risk missing persons, including vulnerable adults and children, across urban, rural, and remote environments.
Keech Hospice - Luton
Keech Hospice provides free specialist end-of-life hospice care for people of all ages.
St Wilfrid’s Hospice - West Sussex
St Wilfrid’s Hospice is an independent local charity and, for over 35 years, has been caring for people in our community who are in the last phase of their lives.
St Raphael’s Hospice - Kingston and Sutton
Striving to improve the lives of those affected by terminal or life-limiting illnesses, giving them and their carers the confidence to cope and enjoy the best quality of life possible.
Helen and Douglas House – VolkerSmart Technologies EV division and Oxfordshire
Helping terminally ill children live life to the full. Helen and Douglas House is a place where families can make the most of their time together and create happy memories during their children’s short lives.
Cancer Research UK – VolkerSmart Technologies ICP division
The world's leading independent cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research, influence and information.
Save the Children – VolkerWessels UK corporate charity
For every Close Call raised, 50p goes to VolkerWessels UK’s corporate charity – Save the Children. From crisis response to lasting change, Save the Children is fighting for every child's right to survive, learn and be protected – in the UK and around the world.
To ensure we leave a lasting legacy, the same charities have been selected as the Close Call charities for 2026. VolkerHighways will also be topping up the total donation by £1,400.
“We’re proud to champion so many charities across the regions where we operate. In addition to our Close Calls initiative, many of our contracts have strengthened ties with local charities by forming meaningful partnerships. Through additional donations and dedicated ‘Make a Difference’ days, our teams have the opportunity to volunteer and participate in impactful activities that truly benefit their communities."
Cheryl Latreille Social Value Manager for VolkerHighways
