A bingo machine for hard-of-hearing residents, a gazebo for autistic adults, a new boiler for a domestic abuse survivor, West End theatre tickets for young people who had never seen a show … and more.
Ian Williams has now completed 65 projects across 30 organisations through Match My Project, and the requests could hardly be more varied.
So how does a company decide what to say yes to?
Sinead O’Neill, Social Value Manager at Ian Williams Ltd, says the answer comes back to one thing.
“The common thread across every project is simple: people. We look for initiatives that can make a meaningful difference to someone’s wellbeing, independence, or opportunity.”
80 years, still connected to local communities
Ian Williams Ltd was founded in 1946 and is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. The property services company works across social housing, education, retirement living, healthcare, defence, commercial, hospitality and leisure, providing painting, planned investment, repairs and maintenance services.
Its UK-wide operation is built around a network of local offices and directly employed teams.
The local presence is an important part of how Ian Williams approaches Social Value.
Since joining Match My Project in 2022, its teams have been able to see community requests in the areas where they work and live. The company’s support has grown from financial donations and volunteering to include practical property improvements, skills sharing, employability support, community projects and in-kind contributions.
Sinead says that Social Value is part of the company’s culture.
“Social Value is embedded within our culture, not treated as an add-on to our contracts.”
When a small request opens the door to something bigger
The Shirley Community Library project in Croydon is a good example.
Play Place Innov8 CIC, a community interest company with roots in nearby New Addington, had been selected by the council to reopen the library as a community library and learning centre. The building would provide space for after-school clubs, workshops and local groups alongside its library services.
Its original Match My Project request was to redecorate the main hall.
When the Ian Williams team visited the site and spoke with the people involved, they saw an opportunity to support more of the building.
“When we visited the site and spoke with the team, we quickly recognised the importance of what they were trying to achieve.”
Following a survey and internal review, Ian Williams offered to carry out a complete internal redecoration. The work covered the main hall, two wellness rooms, two offices, the kitchen and the bathrooms. The team also repaired and strengthened shelving so it could safely support the library’s donated books.
The work took three weeks and was completed ahead of the library’s relaunch on 11 December 2025.
Play Place Innov8 CIC later described the project as something that would have a “lasting, positive impact” on the community, highlighting the team’s professionalism, dedication and care.
Theatre tickets, not paint
Not every project draws on Ian Williams’ property services expertise.
The MAPS project, run by Volunteer Centre Sutton, supports disadvantaged and vulnerable young people through mentoring, advocacy and peer support. The organisation wanted to take a group to see Back to the Future in the West End, with many of the young people experiencing a theatre trip for the first time.
Ian Williams funded the tickets within days.
“Social Value is not always about bricks, mortar and paint,” Sinead says. “Sometimes the greatest impact comes from supporting opportunities that inspire, connect and empower people.”
Volunteer Centre Sutton described Ian Williams as “communicative, helpful and friendly”, and said the team took the time to understand the project before providing the funding.
The projects that keep coming back
Some organisations appear repeatedly across Ian Williams’ project history, including Hyde Housing, Good Neighbours and Bromley & Croydon Women’s Aid.
The relationship with Bromley & Croydon Women’s Aid is a good example of partnership.
The charity has supported survivors of domestic abuse through refuge accommodation, outreach and support groups since 1975. Across several projects, Ian Williams has provided household items including irons, microwaves and duvet covers, as well as art supplies for a support group.
Sinead describes the value of these ongoing relationships.
“It is through ongoing partnerships and collaboration that we develop a deeper understanding of an organisation’s challenges and can provide support that is both meaningful and relevant.”
The company’s role is to listen, stay connected and respond when new needs arise.
Repeat support can therefore build on what the organisation has already learned about the community it is supporting. It also gives the community organisation a supplier it knows it can approach when another need emerges.
“Ultimately, repeat support is a sign of trust.”
Making sure the support is right
Ian Williams works extensively with vulnerable residents and people facing disadvantage. According to the company, more than 80% of its work across the UK involves vulnerable residents.
This experience shapes how its teams approach Social Value.
Community organisations know their beneficiaries and their needs. Ian Williams’ approach is to listen to those organisations and respond to what they ask for, whether that means funding, household essentials, practical assistance or volunteer support.
There is also a strong emphasis on dignity and privacy.
The company says it does not share sensitive personal information or individual stories more widely unless expressly agreed. The team believes supporting people means making sure the way that support is delivered is respectful as well as useful.
The range of projects supported through Match My Project has reinforced this approach.
Small projects still matter
Some of Ian Williams’ projects involve modest contributions: a thermos flask for a play street, irons to help people keep clothes smart, or duvet covers for someone moving into a new home.
Sinead sees these projects as an important reminder that financial value and human value are not the same thing.
“These projects remind us that Social Value is not about the size of the donation, but the difference it makes to the person receiving it.”
The same care applies whether the request is for one item or a larger community project.
What 65 projects have taught them
Working through 65 projects has also shown Ian Williams the breadth of need beyond the communities it would traditionally reach through its property services work.
Sinead points to the variety of requests, their geographical spread and increased demand at particular times of year, such as Christmas.
The experience has reinforced the need to stay flexible.
Every organisation is different, and every community has its own priorities. A useful contribution depends on understanding what is needed at that particular time.
This is also why Sinead’s advice to other contractors focuses on impact.
“Focus on impact rather than outputs. Meaningful Social Value comes from understanding local needs, building genuine relationships and empowering your teams to make a difference in the communities where they work.”
She also encourages community organisations to be specific.
“Be clear about what support is needed, why it is needed and the difference it will make.”
The strongest requests, she says, are realistic, achievable and within a supplier’s ability to provide.
Match My Project is proud to spotlight Ian Williams 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.
