Jackson volunteers refurbish Grimsby disability gym alongside Humber sea defence work

Seven Jackson Civil Engineering volunteers have redecorated Grimsby's only dedicated disability gym in a day and a half, as social value work alongside the contractor's sea wall project on the south bank of the Humber.

The gym is run by the Rock Foundation charity, which Jackson said is the only gym in Grimsby catering specifically for people with disabilities. The space serves more than 90 young people with additional needs and from disadvantaged backgrounds, the contractor said.

Jackson approached the charity, which then organised what it called a paintathon. The volunteers stripped, plastered and painted every wall, door and skirting board in the gym.

Pam Hodge, CEO of Rock Foundation, said: "It was great to see the faces of our students the first morning they saw their newly decorated sports hall."

She added that she had no idea how to put into words the difference the work had made to everyone.

The donations

Jackson said the project was made possible by donations of materials and equipment from the Grimsby branches of Crown Paints, Dulux and Speedy Hire.

Graham Parker, Jackson's Public Liaison Officer, helped to organise the event. He said: "We have a business aim to leave the communities we work close to in a better position than when we started our work near to them."

According to Jackson's corporate pages, all its staff can take community days to support causes close to where they work or further afield.

The sea defence contract

Jackson said it is carrying out a sea wall defence project nearby on the south bank of the Humber and is delivering community-based social value projects as part of that work.

The Environment Agency describes the scheme as its £29m Stallingborough 3 sea defence improvements project between Immingham and Grimsby. Jackson's own project page says it oversaw a £29m upgrade along a 4.5km stretch of coastline near Grimsby for the agency, as the third phase of the Stallingborough Sea Defence Improvement Scheme.

The two organisations give slightly different figures for the work. Jackson says almost 90,000 tonnes of rock armour were placed, protecting 2,300 properties as well as nationally important infrastructure and industry. The Environment Agency, in a December 2024 release, put the rock armour at 90,000 tonnes over a 3km length to protect the existing revetment, and said the scheme better protects 2,400 properties.

Jackson said the improvements are expected to generate economic benefits valued at £1.1bn over the next 25 years. The original flood walls on the Humber's south bank were built after the 1953 floods, according to the contractor.

Rock placement could only take place between April and October to protect overwintering birds, Jackson said. Work in the colder months consisted of repairs to four concrete culverts.

The Environment Agency said in its December 2024 update that the main outfall improvements at Oldfleet Drain and New Cut Drain near Grimsby were due to restart from spring 2025.

The charity

Rock Foundation UK Ltd was founded in 2008 and is based in North East Lincolnshire, according to its website. Companies House records show it as an active company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 6 May 2008.

The charity says it supports over 90 students through its day service provision and provides supported housing for up to 12 residents. Its main site is at 39-41 Heneage Road, Grimsby, with a supported housing site in Caistor.