Selco News

The Wales Air Ambulance Charity has received a donation of building materials from us to help upgrade overnight accommodation for its hard-working crew.

The life-saving charity, which operates 24/7 across Wales, has received £1,000 to spend with us through our Community Heroes initiative.

The materials will be used to improve crew accommodation and welfare facilities at Wales Air Ambulance’s Cardiff airbase.

Hannah Mitchell, Grants and Trusts Fundraiser for Wales Air Ambulance Charity, said: “We are thrilled to be named a Selco Community Hero and to win these materials.

“We deliver critical medical care to people across Wales, attending those suffering from a life or limb-threatening injury or illness.

“The highly skilled crew on board our helicopters can carry out medical procedures which would usually only be available within a hospital setting.

“We are in urgent need of upgrading the accommodation area at our Cardiff airbase for the crew to use when staying for their overnight shift. These materials will make a huge difference and we cannot wait to start the renovations.”

Wales Air Ambulance is the only charity of its kind dedicated to the people of Wales and relies entirely on charitable donations, requiring £11.2m every year to keep the helicopters in the air and the fleet of rapid response vehicles on the road.

Charity representatives will visit Selco Swansea in Llansamlet to select the materials.

This year we are giving away an incredible £57,500 to good causes across the country through Community Heroes, including 40 individual prizes of £1,000 to spend in store.

Running until the end of September, the campaign will also see a top prize of £10,000 in cash awarded to an overall winner, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place.

Any group that supports its local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing at Selco, said: “We are so proud to announce another amazing Community Hero winner. We have already presented 25 good causes with £1,000 worth of materials in 2025 with 15 winners still to come.

“Wales Air Ambulance does sensational work, attending over 3,500 emergency incidents each year. With our support, their heroic crew will be able to be more comfortable and benefit from valuable rest when working the night shift.

“We look forward to hearing from more incredible charities and community groups before the campaign closing date.”

Volunteers at a community farm in Southampton will have a warm place to shelter this winter after the project won materials from us.

Aldermoor Community Farm has been announced as a monthly winner in our Community Heroes campaign, receiving £1,000 to spend in store.

Four individuals bought an acre of agricultural land in the city in 2014 and transformed it into a community farm and farm shop promoting wellbeing and sustainability for local residents.

The prize will be used to erect and insulate an on-site cabin so volunteers have a place to shelter when the weather turns.

Deborah White, of Aldermoor Community Farm, said: “We are thrilled to win this support from Selco. We have a vision to nurture people while we nurture the land – and these materials will help us achieve that goal.

“We have been planning to build a cabin for a while to encourage all year-round activity, so this is a huge boost.

“Our aim has always been to build a community through activity on the farm and to support individuals with their positive mental health and wellbeing.

“Users tell us that getting out of the house and being around caring people, animals and nature really helps.”

The farm grows a wide range of produce, including salad leaves, tomatoes, chili peppers, potatoes and herbs. Chickens and ducks are also kept on site, producing high quality eggs.

Deborah and the team plan to visit our Southampton store on Millbrook Industrial Estate to pick up its materials.

This year’s Selco Community Heroes campaign is bigger and better than ever, with a total prize pot of £57,500.

That includes 40 monthly prizes of £1,000 credit to spend in store, as well as a top prize of £10,000 in cash for an overall winner, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place.

Entries are open until September and any group that supports its local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing at Selco, said: “Countless studies show that being around other people, nature and animals can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, so we’re delighted to support Aldermoor Community Farm and its work in Southampton.

“We receive hundreds of Community Heroes applications every month but Aldermoor Community Farm really stood out with its clear plans for future development.

“We are proud to have already donated £25,000 worth of building materials through Community Heroes this year – but there is still time to enter and win big.

“Our team looks forward to pouring over hundreds more applications before the closing date.”

A community-led allotment association in Slough is set to bolster its security after winning new fencing in our Community Heroes competition.

Britwell Garden & Allotments Association manages 50 allotment plots on Cowper Road in Britwell.

The group has received a significant boost after winning £1,000 to spend at its local Selco store through Community Heroes.

Zibby Miedzianowski, spokesman for Britwell Garden & Allotments Association, said the store credit would be used to replace broken fencing to protect the space from vandalism.

“All our members were thrilled to bits to hear we had won the funding from Selco,” he said.

“We’re completely volunteer led and we support 100 local residents through 50 plots in Britwell.

“Our site promotes healthy living, sustainable food and wellbeing for people of all ages and backgrounds.

“This new fencing will not only protect the facility but also make it safer and more welcoming. This prize will make a huge difference to our community.”

Zibby and the team plan to visit Selco Slough on Farnham Road to pick up the materials.

This year’s Community Heroes campaign is bigger and better than ever, with a total prize pot of £57,500.

That includes 40 monthly prizes of £1,000 credit to spend in store, as well as a top prize of £10,000 in cash for an overall winner, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place.

Entries are open until September and any group that supports its local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing at Selco, said: “We’re delighted to support the volunteers at Britwell Garden & Allotments Association in their quest to provide high quality allotments for people in the local area.

“Allotments promote community engagement and healthy living, so we are delighted to help.

“Community Heroes has been a huge success once again. We have already awarded £25,000 worth of building materials to good causes across the country with a further £15,000 to be won before our overall cash winners are decided.

“Supporting good causes has always been central to the Selco ethos and Community Heroes is just one way in which we do that.”

The team behind the restoration of a derelict swimming baths in Rock Ferry has received our backing.

The Byrne Avenue Baths closed in 2009 but was saved from bulldozers by a charity following a public campaign and reopened in 2021.

The Byrne Avenue Trust has now won £1,000 of building materials through our Community Heroes campaign.

The charity plans to use the materials to continue its renovations of the beautiful listed building, with longer term plans to open a craft room, offering creative activities including art, recycling and sewing.

Jane Richards, CEO of The Byrne Avenue Trust, said: “The whole community pulled together to save the baths, which is now open as a busy sports and community centre, offering sporting opportunities, activities and affordable social events.

“Last year we created a community shop selling basics at subsidised prices. Our next goal is the craft room, which we hope will also be well-loved.

“We couldn’t have achieved what we have without the generous support of local businesses. We’re thrilled to be a Selco Community Hero and look forward to visiting the Liverpool store to select our materials.”

As well as 40 monthly prizes of £1,000, Community Heroes will also see a top prize of £10,000 in cash awarded to an overall winner, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place – taking the overall prize pot to a record-breaking £57,500.

Entries are open until September and any group that supports its local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing, said: “This year’s Community Heroes campaign is bigger and better and ever. We have already awarded £25,000 of building materials to good causes across the country with plenty more prizes to come.

“Many people in Rock Ferry will remember Byrne Avenue Baths from their younger days so it’s great that this charity was able to save it from demolition.

“The building already looks amazing and these materials will help to make it even better for the community to enjoy.”

A community art project in south east London that supports social inclusion has received a donation of building materials to help renovate its new building.

This is Arcade CIC has been running a gallery in London and internationally since 2007, most recently on Bellenden Road in Peckham. Since becoming a Community Interest Company in 2021, Arcade has focused increasingly on local, community-led activity.

The organisation has now secured a 10-year lease on a disused building on Hatcham Road, which it plans to transform into a vibrant community gallery and kitchen, with programmes, workshops and accessible facilities.

The project has been boosted by winning £1,000 of building materials through our Community Heroes campaign.

This year we are giving away an incredible £57,500 to good causes across the country through the initiative, including 40 individual prizes of £1,000.

Christian Mooney, This is Arcade CIC founder, said: “We are delighted to have secured this fantastic prize from Selco.

“We’re extremely excited about our new Hatcham Road space, which is due to launch later this year. This will allow us to continue to provide our vital exhibition programme for mid-career and young artists, while also funding community meals and promoting public participation.

“This facility will help to support youths at risk while promoting disability inclusion, food justice and social care.

“We have already crowdfunded £32,000 and these materials from Selco will help us to carry out important renovations to the building’s interior.

“We’ve had so much fantastic support and it’s great to have Selco on board.”

Christian plans to visit our Old Kent Road store to select the materials.

As well as the monthly prizes of £1,000, Community Heroes will also see a top prize of £10,000 in cash awarded to an overall winner, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place.

Any group that supports its local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing, said: “We have already awarded an amazing £25,000 worth of building materials to some tremendous good causes through Community Heroes.

“Choosing our winners is always a mammoth task but This is Arcade CIC stood out because of the wide-ranging services it provides to so many people in the community.

“We have already received hundreds of nominations to Community Heroes this year and the team look forward to reading many more before the campaign closing date.”

We're delighted to confirm we have carried out a significant expansion of our partnership with the UK’s leading tool and equipment hire specialist, HSS Hire.

An additional seven Selco stores - Cheltenham, Canning Town, Croydon, Hanworth, Bradford, Warrington and Reading – are having HSS The Hire Service Company satellite operations added to the trade counter.

That will take the total number of our stores offering a HSS hire service to supplement our core offering to 26, more than a third of our store network.

Cheltenham went live on June 16, with the remainder following at regular intervals over the following three months and all to be installed by the end of September.

Craig Bowler, Head of Central Operations at Selco, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with HSS after hugely successful launches in the initial phases of the partnership.

“The feedback we have received from customers has been exceptionally positive and they are thriving on the fact they can purchase their materials and fulfil their hire requirements all at the same time and all under one roof.

“We want to make life as convenient and simple for professional tradespeople as we can and this is another step towards achieving that.”

Each HSS satellite desk can found at our trade counters, with HSS teams in place to offer specialist advice for the offering.

Nick Hadley, Managing Director at HSS The Hire Service Company, added: “There is a natural fit between the services offered by a builders merchant and a tool and equipment hire specialist.

“We’re pleased to be continuing our roll-out with Selco so there are now even more locations where customers can get virtually everything they need for any job in one place, whether through purchasing or hiring materials and tools.”

A Surrey foodbank has won building materials through Community Heroes to help renovate its rundown storage space.

The Walton & Hersham Foodbank, part of the Walton Charity family, urgently needs to improve its facility to continue distributing more than 5,000 food parcels in the area every year.

The charity has been boosted by winning £1,000 to spend at Selco through our award-winning Community Heroes competition.

This year we are giving away an incredible £57,500 to good causes across the country through Community Heroes, including 40 individual prizes of £1,000 to spend in store.

Janette Butler, Corporate Partnership Manager for the Walton & Hersham Foodbank, said: “Winning this support from Selco is a massive boost at the perfect time.

“We are currently relying on costly, scattered storage that limits our efficiency in meeting rising demand.

“Renovating our facilities will not only centralise our operation but also lay the groundwork for a future community pantry and hub, offering dignity, resources and hope to those facing hardship.

“The support of Selco is greatly appreciated and we look forward to visiting the Weybridge store.”

This year’s Community Heroes campaign has already seen £20,000 of building supplies donated to worthy groups across the UK.

Running until the end of September, the campaign will also see a top prize of £10,000 in cash awarded to an overall winner, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place.

Any group that supports the local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing at Selco, said: “We all know the important role foodbanks play in today’s society, helping thousands of people who are struggling to make ends meet and to survive.

“We’re proud to support The Walton & Hersham Foodbank and its work across Elmbridge Surrey and wish them every success in the years to come.

“This is the fifth edition of Community Heroes and it has grown every year to become something everyone within the business is proud of.”

A Wokingham charity that provides supported housing and associated services to people with learning disabilities and mental health issues has been given a materials boost to help improve its properties.

EHSL has won £1,000 to spend at Selco through our award-winning Community Heroes scheme.

This year we are giving away an incredible £57,500 to good causes across the country through Community Heroes.

EHSL has properties across the south of England and plans to use the funding to improve the homes for the benefit of its tenants. These tenents require specialist support and may encounter difficulty renting accommodation from the wider housing market.

Sarah Gold, Head of Landlord Services at EHSL, said: “This prize will enable us to carry out decorating and repairs in many of our tenants’ homes, which will make a huge difference to their lives. It’s fabulous news.

“Our goal is to support people with additional needs to be able to access accommodation in the community suitable for them. We want to give our tenants independence, empowerment and give them opportunities to learn and develop socially along with the help of their care providers.

“To have the backing of Selco is fantastic. The work they are doing right across the UK is outstanding.”

The EHSL maintenance team plans to visit our Reading store on Portman Trading Estate to select their materials.

This year’s Community Heroes campaign has already seen £20,000 of building supplies donated to worthy groups across the UK.

Running until the end of September, the campaign will see 40 individual prizes of £1,000 to spend in-store dished out, followed by a top prize of £10,000 in cash, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place.

Any group that supports the local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing at Selco, said: “One of the most exciting aspects of Community Heroes is the wide variety of good causes we are able to support, from primary schools to food banks and sports clubs to charities.

“We’re delighted to back EHSL in its efforts to offer good quality housing to a section of society which can struggle in the open market. For the people they work with, it’s life changing.

“These materials will go a long way and will help to improve multiple properties within the charity’s portfolio.”

Proposals to build a new cycle track in Greater Manchester in memory of a four-year-old boy has received our backing.

The team at Max Trax CIC is planning to build an all-wheel pump track in Delamere Park, in the heart of Openshaw, one of the most deprived areas of the region.

The project was founded by Kerrie Rimmer in memory of her son Max, who died in a tragic accident.

Max Trax CIC has already raised £336,000 and work is due to start this year – and we have now also contributed £1,000 of building materials.

Kerrie applied for funding through our Community Heroes scheme and was thrilled when Max Trax CIC was named as one of five monthly winners.

She said: “We are delighted to receive Selco’s support through the fantastic Community Heroes initiative.

“We wanted to build a lasting legacy for Max, but one that benefits the whole community. We have now signed a lease on a disused building to open it up as a hub, kiosk and toilet as part of the cycle track.

“The building is in need of renovation to transform it into a community hub in the heart of Openshaw, giving volunteer opportunities and a place to learn and develop new skills in conjunction with the repair and recycle workshop.”

Colleagues at our Ashton Moss store will help the Max Trax team select the right materials for the work.

Twenty good causes across the country have already been successful in winning building supplies through Community Heroes 2025, which is the fifth edition of the annual competition.

The campaign runs until the end of September and has a total fund of £57,500, made up of 40 individual prizes of £1,000 to spend in-store, a top prize of £10,000 in cash, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place.

Any group that supports the local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing at Selco, said: “This is a really interesting project that will bring a fantastic new facility to Openshaw. The team have already raised a tremendous amount of money and we are pleased to be able to get involved through Community Heroes.

“We were keen to make Community Heroes 2025 bigger and better than ever before with more winners and a vastly enhanced prize pot. The feedback has been amazing.

“We still have thousands of pounds’ worth of materials to be won, so we’d urge groups of all shapes and sizes to log on and enter.”

A prominent church in the centre of Bristol has won a donation of building materials to improve its kitchen and continue its work with the city’s homeless community.

Central Church, on Tower Hill, has been named as a regional winner for the month our Community Heroes competition.

The church has received £1,000 to spend in store with us, which will help to renovate the cooking facilities used for its weekly soup kitchen.

Tim Browne, Associate Leader at Central Church, said: “We’re thrilled to be named as a Selco Community Hero. It is a recognition of the tireless work our volunteers do in the community.

“We run a vital soup kitchen on Friday nights as part of the Bristol Soup Run Trust, feeding the hungry and homeless in Bristol.

“We serve warm, nutritious meals – but our kitchen is in dire need of renovation, with worn-out surfaces, outdated equipment and limited storage. These challenges make it difficult to maintain efficiency and hygiene.

“These materials will help us prepare and serve meals more effectively, ensuring Bristol’s most vulnerable receive the support they need.”

Tim and his team will visit our Bristol Bishopsworth store on Cater Road to select their materials.

This year’s Community Heroes campaign has already seen £20,000 of building supplies donated to worthy groups across the UK.

The campaign runs until the end of September and has a total fund of £57,500, made up of 40 individual prizes of £1,000 to spend in store, a top prize of £10,000 in cash, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place.

Any group that supports the local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing at Selco, said: “Everyone at Selco is extremely proud of the Community Heroes campaign and the tremendous difference it makes to community groups every year.

“This is the fifth year of Community Heroes – and this year’s prize fund is bigger than ever. We were all impressed by the work Central Church is doing with Bristol’s homeless community. I’m sure an upgraded kitchen will further improve the service the volunteers can offer to vulnerable people in the city.”