PCL Attend the Grand Opening of the ‘Lion Rescue Centre’

Premier Coatings Ltd. (PCL) were delighted to attend the grand opening of the Lion Rescue Centre at the Big Cat Sanctuary (BCS) in Smarden. The opening of the new purpose-built facility on March 25^th marked the successful culmination of the charity’s ambitious efforts to rescue five African lions from Ukraine and rehome them here in the UK.

The BCS’s ‘Big Cats in Crisis’ appeal was launched in 2024 with the aim of raising £500,000 to help fund the rescue of the four female lionesses and one male lion. The big cats had suffered greatly from debilitating physical and neurological ailments and had been housed in highly unsuitable living conditions during, and prior to, the outbreak of war in the country. The small but dedicated team at Wild Animals Rescue Centre in Kyiv helped with the initial rescue of each of the lions and provided temporary shelter whilst a more permanent solution was found.

As long-time sponsors of the sanctuary’s conservation efforts, PCL and the F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust offered their support with a total donation of £50,000 – which combined with donations from other sponsors and the public, helped the ‘Big Cats in Crisis’ campaign to reach its fundraising goal.

The Lion Rescue Centre was formally opened by BCS staff and esteemed guests including their newly appointed Managing Director, Cam Whitnall; the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi; and BCS Ambassador Paul Hollywood. The centre now provides each lion with their own individually tailored space, allowing them to recuperate in a safe, calming environment that meets their unique needs. PCL and the F.B. Coales Trust were thrilled to be invited to the grand opening to view the facility and the rescued lions up close, along with viewing some of the other impressive felines also housed at the sanctuary.

Attending the opening day, Steve Crawley – Managing Director, PCL – said, “We are delighted to support such a worthy cause and support our neighbours. The team at PCL are motivated in the knowledge that their endeavours contribute not only to the business purposes of the company but also the charitable purposes of the trust.”

Also in attendance, Sarah Hashmi – a trustee of the F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust – commented, “The dedication and love for these amazing animals was clear to see from talking to members of staff involved with their rescue and rehabilitation. The enclosures and centre are stunning, and the lions looked incredibly chilled despite the numerous photographers and visitors. It was a pleasure to help such a worthy cause, and I look forward to future visits.”

Fellow trustee John Burton noted, “After consulting with my fellow trustees, we all enthusiastically agreed to donate to the Big Cats in Crisis campaign. It was fantastic to see the Big Cat Sanctuary reach their fundraising goal and a pleasure to attend the opening of the impressive new habitat that they have constructed.”

On behalf of everyone at PCL and the F.B. Coales Trust, we’d like to offer our sincerest congratulations to the whole team at the Big Cat Sanctuary and wish the lions the very best for the future in their new home.

For further information on the campaign and to discover the story behind each lion’s rescue, please visit The Big Cat Sanctuary’s website here: https://thebigcatsanctuary.org/big-cats-in-crisis/

PCL and F.B. Coales Trust Make £25,000 Donation to ‘Big Cats in Crisis’

Premier Coatings Ltd. and the F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust have donated £25,000 to The Big Cat Sanctuary’s ‘Big Cats in Crisis’ appeal to help rescue five African lions from Ukraine.

Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the ongoing conflict has turned the entire country into a war zone. The damage and distress caused by continued fighting in the region has taken its toll on so many – including the four female lionesses and one male lion that The Big Cat Sanctuary, working alongside the International Fund for Animal Welfare, are on a mission to rescue.

Kept in captivity prior to the outbreak of war, the lions were found to be suffering from a range of devastating symptoms including disease, shell shock and malnourishment, and residing in wholly unsuitable living conditions for predators of their size. Rescued by the small but dedicated team at Wild Animals Rescue Centre in Kyiv, The Big Cat Sanctuary is now looking to remove all five lions from Ukraine and provide safe passage and temporary shelter elsewhere in Europe, before permanently housing them in a new purpose-built facility at the charity’s premises in Smarden, Kent.

The Big Cat Sanctuary is a registered animal charity (Reg. Charity No. 1104420) focused upon the conservation of endangered cats worldwide. Premier Coatings Ltd. is a proud sponsor and neighbour of the sanctuary and, with the help of the F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust, were delighted to lend their support to this important and time-critical campaign to provide help to these big cats in crisis.

The Big Cat Sanctuary has currently raised £300,000 but needs further help to reach its target of £500,000 and to achieve its goal of rescuing the five African lions. If you would like to donate to the appeal, or find out more information about the campaign, please visit The Big Cat Sanctuary’s website here: https://thebigcatsanctuary.org/big-cats-in-crisis/

WCI@140 Photo Competition – And the winner is…

Back in October 2023, our parent company launched the Winn & Coales 140^th Anniversary Photo Competition as a way of drawing their 140^th year to a triumphant close and inviting you to become a small part of that celebration.

Firstly, on behalf of WCI, we would like to thank everyone who entered. We were thrilled at the response from our customers and online followers and want to thank you all for joining in our celebrations.

So, with the competition now closed, who are the lucky winners?! In descending order…

Third place – Vipan K. from Botswana!

Vipan shared a brilliant photo of CPT Tape^™ which had been applied on a water pipeline project in Botswana. The unique perspective displayed in the photograph showcases the extremely professional and tidy tape application as the pipe waits to be lowered into the trench.

Second place – Richard R. from South Africa!

Richard was one of our first entries into the competition and set a high standard for the many that followed with this Archco 403D^™ application during a petrochemical plant’s shutdown in September in South Africa. This unique shot was taken inside the water storage tank that Richard and his team had blast-cleaned and coated in only 11 days!

And finally, our winner, in first place, is – TAMS Group from Australia!

The TAMS Group submitted this incredible photo of a SeaShield 2000FD^™ System application during pile remediation works in Western Australia. Our judges were extremely impressed with this truly unique shot, which spotlights an often-unseen perspective of pile repair and maintenance taking place below the water line.

We’re sure you will agree that all three of our winners submitted excellent photos that are extremely worthy of their placements.

Once again, we would like to thank everyone for their participation and helping Winn & Coales International Ltd. to celebrate its 140^th anniversary!

St. Luke’s Pond Revamp Funded by F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust Donation

The F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust continues in its mission to support good causes around Southeast London and Kent. Last year, the Trust were delighted to offer their support to St. Luke’s CofE Primary School in West Norwood – a mere two streets away from the Winn & Coales International Ltd. (WCI) head office!

St. Luke’s supports 188 children between the ages of 4 and 11 to become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens. Exposure to a wide curriculum of subjects combined with access to a range of outdoor spaces and extra-curricular activities, encourages pupils to succeed and achieve their personal best in a warm, caring and inclusive environment.

The F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust were approached by the PFA (Parents and Friends Association) at St. Luke’s in early 2023 to see how they could help to further enrich the learning opportunities provided for the students. After some positive discussions, the Trust were thrilled to donate £10,000 to help revamp the school’s outdoor pond area and for the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) to purchase additional learning aids for the school.

A valuable learning resource, the pond and nature area bring the classroom outside, providing an exciting new environment for students to explore. Sophia Bryan-Whyte, the headteacher of St. Luke’s said, “The children can read about the wildlife, but coming in to see actual plants oxygenating the pond, it makes a difference for the learners.”

Over time, the pond had become overgrown and in need of refurbishment; with the Trust’s donation, St. Luke’s commissioned the expert help of Sprout Up – Schools to breathe new life into this educational outdoor space. Seonaid Royall from the company said, “Sprout Up – Schools was built to be able to help schools like St. Luke’s build their pond area, making a derelict space more beautiful and useful for the children.”

The ‘Water Life Area’ was officially opened in September 2023 after a busy summer of renovation works by Sprout Up – Schools and Thomas Patrick Landscapes, with pupils able to enjoy renewed learning opportunities in the great outdoors for the 2023/24 school year. Amari Bempah, a Year 5 learner at St. Luke’s, thanked WCI and the Trust at the grand opening, saying, “Thank you so much for making the pond better; we appreciate and love it very much.”

The Trust’s donation also helped the SENCo leader at St. Luke’s to purchase additional learning materials and items for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A range of wobble stools, wobble feet, ear defenders and chew toys were purchased to support pupils who benefit from additional help in the classroom to assist them in their day-to-day learning. The teachers have already seen these items make a positive impact on their students and will no doubt see further benefit to more pupils in the future.

Sarah Hashmi, F.B. Coales Trustee, said, “It was an honour to attend the grand opening of the new pond area and I would like to extend my thanks to everyone at the school for making me feel so welcome and for the lovely warm reception we received.

It was clear to see the children were so excited and engaged with the new pond area and I am sure it will be a valued learning resource for many years to come. The team at Sprout Up – Schools did an amazing job, and it was lovely to meet the team responsible for creating this haven of tranquility in the middle of West Norwood.

The wobble chair was actually very comfortable too and it is good to hear how these additional resources are benefitting the students that use them.”

For further information about the work of the F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust, read our blog post here.

WCI & Charitable Trust Support Local Foodbank to Fight Food Poverty

Winn & Coales International Ltd. (W.C.I.) and the F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust were delighted to support the Norwood & Brixton Foodbank with a £25,000 donation in 2022. The donation has now funded the hire of an electric delivery vehicle and driver for a 12-month period, increasing food parcel deliveries across the borough.

The foodbank, part of the Trussell Trust’s UK foodbank network, is a lifeline for the local community, providing emergency food parcels, advice, and support in times of crisis. Operating since 2011, the foodbank serves all of Lambeth and north Croydon, with a team of dedicated volunteers working to provide much-needed items to families in need.

“The sheer scale of the foodbank’s operations is astounding, matched only by the professionalism and kindness of the volunteers working there,” said Sarah Hashmi, an F.B. Coales Trustee. “We’re overjoyed to support the foodbank’s great work to reach more families facing food poverty in Lambeth.”

W.C.I. is a leading manufacturer and supplier of corrosion prevention and sealing technologies based in West Norwood, London. The F.B. Coales No.4 (Family) Trust was set up by company co-founder Frank Coales, and today has three trustees and is a registered charity (no. 1179856).