Buckets of Christmas goodwill to help children with vision impairments

By What More UK Ltd

05 Dec 2016

Padiham-based homeware business What More UK is brimming with buckets full of goodwill this Christmas, with unusual gifts to help children with vision impairment.

The manufacturer – known as the most dynamic plastics company in the UK - has paired up with Positive Eye, a consultancy dedicated to providing training and resources for teachers of vision impaired children and young people, to bring some seasonal joy in the form of a generous giveaway.

Established in 1999, What More UK has grown rapidly to become the UK’s largest manufacturer and brand leader of plastic homeware, gardening and storage products, under the brand name WHAM. The business operates out of a state of the art 500,000 square foot manufacturing and distribution centre in Altham.

By contrast, Positive Eye is a small consultancy operating out of a home office in Billinge, near Wigan – but nevertheless is a leading and hugely respected training provider in its sector, and its courses and resources are widely used across the UK, Europe and worldwide. One of the unique aspects of Positive Eye’s approach is the down to earth and accessible approach – making resources which use everyday items such as buckets, baskets and boxes to help children access learning.

While most people see buckets as home and garden accessories and wooden spoons as cooking implements, in the hands of Positive Eye they become versatile learning tools, which anyone from parents to professionals can access on the high street.

The two businesses were introduced by a mutual acquaintance, and What More UK Director Tony Grimshaw, who was recently awarded an OBE for his work in export trade and supporting local projects, was happy to invite Positive Eye Director Gwyneth McCormack to look around his factory and choose some resources to share with her clients.

With over 880 WHAM products on the market, and an imagination which sees creative learning possibilities in the most everyday objects, Gwyneth was spoilt for choice.

She says, “I was absolutely thrilled to be invited to WHAM to look around and to choose some products for my clients, who are some of the most hard-working and dedicated professionals you will ever meet. At Positive Eye we are passionate about making learning fun for young people and always use the phrase ‘training joy’ so it is wonderful to be able to bring some joy to our clients and the children they work with in the run up to Christmas thanks to Tony’s generosity.

“Our approach is all about accessibility. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, teaching assistant or head of services in a local authority, you want the best for the children you are working with. The best training methods should be clear and easy to understand and should use objects that anyone can relate to rather than always requiring expensive specialist equipment.

“The variety and quality of the products I have seen at What More UK has been incredible and has given me lots of new ideas. And I want to thank Tony and the staff at WHAM for their incredible kindness in making this donation. What More employs over 250 people and Positive Eye is a tiny business with me as the only full time member of staff, but working together we have been able to help out children with vision impairment all over the North West.”

Tony Grimshaw OBE, Director of What More UK, says, “We have been in business for 18 years and our products sell all over the world in 68 countries from China and India to Australasia and North America, but I don’t think they have ever been used as an educational resource for children with vision impairment before.

“It was inspiring to meet Gwyneth and to see how her imagination can transform a household item into a learning tool. In her hands a plastic bucket can become a storytelling aid based on Frozen or Fireman Sam, and a set of storage drawers becomes a treasure trove of interesting objects for a child to find. “I have been absolutely delighted to welcome her to our premises and am enjoying knowing that our products will be transformed into creative materials to help children learn.”

Enjoyed this? Read more from What More UK Ltd

Latest news

1

Post Office future secured as council explores new options Abington Street Post Office

Post Office future secured as council explores new options

17 Sep 2025

2

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent Jerrod Hartley

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent

17 Sep 2025

3

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing Roger Thistlethwaite, managing director NMS Civil Engineering Limited. Paul Fox, CEO Fox Group. John Flood, Executive Director Fox Group

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing

17 Sep 2025

4

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family The Villa Wrea Green courtesy of The Villa Wrea Green

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family

16 Sep 2025

5

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut Nick Holloway of administrators Interpath

Fourth Lancashire Bodycare store to shut

16 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Ladies Lunch
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Sep 2025 - 18 Sep 2025

Ladies Lunch

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

12:00 - 16:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day
MTD drop in session.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day, Blackburn, BB1 5QB

10:00 - 16:00

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25
Metris 25.09.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin