Staff at Wigan car retailer hope to clean up for a good cause by holding charity car wash

Employees at Arnold Clark Wigan Motorstore are holding a car wash on Saturday, May 21 and hope to raise £1,000 for The Brick.

They are encouraging people to show their support by taking their dirty cars to be cleaned and making a donation.

The seven members of staff will give their wages for the day to the charity, as well as collect donations of £5 for a car wash and £15 for a valet.

Alan Stephens, valet manager at Arnold Clark, said: “We chose The Brick to raise money for as it is an inspirational local charity, and we see how it helps people in our community who are in need and who are experiencing hard times.

“I wanted to arrange this charity car wash event as I've been homeless myself in the past and I needed help when times were hard. I really hope that this is a success and that we can make a difference in people’s lives. We would love to be able to raise £1,000 for the Brick and hopefully we are able to raise even more.”

Daniel Ainscough, click-and-collect valeter, said: “I wanted to join in this event as I want to give back to the community where we work. Raising money for The Brick is important to me, as I have had a family member who has needed support in the past, and The Brick works not only with those who are unfortunately homeless but also people facing financial difficulty. With everything currently going on in our economy, some people will need this support more than ever, and The Brick can offer this.

“I hope that the local community get involved by coming down and having their cars washed or by making a donation to The Brick.”

The Brick supports people across Wigan and Leigh facing homelessness, poverty and other difficulties. A wide range of help is on offer, from securing accommodation and parcels from the food bank, to advice on learning new skills and finding work.

Wendy Doherty, head of fund-raising and partnerships at The Brick, said: “We are delighted that the team at Arnold Clark in Wigan have chosen to raise money for The Brick with their charity car wash. We know that everyone is just a few pay cheques away from the possibility of becoming homeless and with tough times ahead for us all, we need the support of our community to continue to help people facing poverty and homelessness.

“I would encourage anyone who needs a car wash on Saturday, May 21 to come to Arnold Clark, as every penny raised will go towards helping people facing tough times right now.”

The car wash will take place at Arnold Clark Wigan Motorstore, on Wallgate, Wigan, from 10am to 4pm.

To find out more about The Brick, the work it does and how to help, go to the charity’s website