How Cleanscapes is building lasting community relationships through practical support, and why being part of the community means showing up when it matters.

Since joining Match My Project in 2022, Cleanscapes has completed 47 projects across 18 organisations, helping schools, charities, community groups and families access support that might otherwise have been difficult to secure. The requests have ranged from funding a school residential to providing household essentials for families fleeing domestic abuse and improving access to community gardens.

The projects start with understanding what people need and finding a practical way to help.

Support that grows with the relationship

Cleanscapes is part of Scapes Group, which brings together Cleanscapes and Groundscapes to provide cleaning, grounds maintenance and estate services across London, the Home Counties and East Anglia.

With more than 30 years of experience and over 600 directly employed staff, the group works with housing associations, local authorities and other organisations to maintain the places people live and work. Through Match My Project, that experience has also become a way to support community organisations beyond its usual contracts.

We spoke with Catharine Poole, Social Value Coordinator and PA to the Managing Director, who shared some details about the culture of the company. 

“Meaningful Social Value is at the heart of what we do. We all believe that we can make a positive contribution to the communities we serve.”

This commitment is reflected in the variety of requests Cleanscapes has supported. Some need funding, others benefit from equipment or practical help, and some give the team a chance to put its professional skills to use.

“We don’t have a rigid formula, but we look for opportunities where our support, whether through funding, volunteering, resources, or expertise, can create meaningful and lasting value.”

Catharine Poole, Social Value Coordinator

Helping every child take part

One of Cleanscapes’ longest-running relationships is with Henry Fawcett Primary School in Kennington.

Over time, the company has helped fund Christmas pantomime trips, supported after-school clubs and twice funded the school’s Year 6 residential, helping ensure every child could attend.

After one trip, the school shared how much the support meant to its pupils. The contribution also gave Cleanscapes an opportunity to visit and learn more about the school’s work.

That relationship matters. Each request comes from an organisation the company has come to know, making it easier to understand the need and respond when another opportunity arises.

“When you know an organisation and understand the challenges it faces, you can provide support that is more meaningful and timely,” Catherine explains. “Repeat support allows us to be part of a longer journey rather than a single moment.”

Making community spaces work for more people

Cleanscapes’ expertise in grounds maintenance has also proved valuable to community organisations.

At Petworth Community Wellbeing Garden, volunteers from Cleanscapes worked to improve the paths around the raised beds, making them accessible to wheelchair users.

The garden’s team praised the volunteers for their hard work and explained that the improvements would make a real difference to people who previously struggled to move around the space independently.

“Projects like the Petworth Community Wellbeing Garden allow us to apply those skills in a way that directly benefits local people.”

Catharine Poole, Social Value Coordinator

The same thinking shaped Cleanscapes’ support for a sensory garden at a domestic abuse refuge in Folkestone. The company provided a voucher for plants, compost and children’s gardening tools, helping families create a space where they could grow fruit and vegetables together.

Understanding what families are facing

Some of Cleanscapes’ contributions have addressed immediate needs within households.

Through its relationship with the Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour, the company has responded to repeated requests for items including kettles, vacuum cleaners, winter clothing and microwaves for families who had no way to cook a hot meal.

In one instance, a microwave went to a family who had recently fled domestic abuse and had no way to heat food provided by a foodbank. Catherine says the empathy behind this work starts at the top of the business, with Managing Director Daryl Goldring encouraging the company to help where it can.

“We recognise that many families and community organisations are facing real challenges, and we understand that what might seem like a small contribution can make a huge difference to someone’s day-to-day life.”

Catharine Poole, Social Value Coordinator

Listening is central to this approach. Cleanscapes works with schools, charities and community groups to understand what would be useful, rather than assuming it already has the answer.

Cleanscapes also sees employment and training as important parts of its Social Value work.

Across Scapes Group, colleagues have progressed from apprenticeships and entry-level positions into long-term careers, including management roles. The company wants to build on this through recruitment events that help people understand the opportunities available and how they can get started.

Advice for businesses and community organisations

For businesses considering how to build a Social Value programme, Catherine’s advice is to begin with what they can offer.

“Just get started. You don’t need a huge programme or budget from day one.”

Catharine Poole, Social Value Coordinator

She encourages businesses to try different opportunities, identify where their skills and resources can be useful, and support causes that matter to their teams. Consistency can then grow through the relationships they build.

For community organisations, her advice is to make requests clear and specific. Explain what is needed, who will benefit and what the contribution will make possible. Larger projects may also become more achievable when broken into smaller elements that several suppliers can support.

Catherine also stresses the importance of sharing feedback once a project is complete. Photos, stories and examples help businesses understand what their contribution has achieved and can encourage them to get involved again.

As Catherine puts it, “We are part of the community, not just occasional visitors.”

Match My Project is proud to spotlight Cleanscapes Ltd as this month’s Supplier of the Month.

Are you a business looking for a more efficient way to make an impact in your community? It takes just 2 minutes to sign up. Find your local authority at matchmyproject.org to get started.