Hundreds of people across Shropshire are again set to benefit from McPhillips’ pioneering community fund – with £18,000 being shared across five vital causes supporting men’s mental health.

The award-winning construction and civil engineering firm became the first business in the county to launch a dedicated grant scheme with the Shropshire Community Foundation in 2025.

In the inaugural year, £18,000 was handed to six community groups working with people suffering mental health issues or social isolation.

A report subsequently revealed that the grant funding reached more than 1,200 people across the region – and now another five organisations focussing specifically on men’s mental health and veteran support are set to receive grants.

Successful applicants include 4 All Foundation, Ex-Forces to Community’s, Feed the Birds, Shrewsbury Men’s Shed and Shropshire Rural Support.

McPhillips’ managing director, Paul Inions, said it was a privilege to continue to play a part in helping so many worthwhile causes across the county.

“We were so proud to help such great causes as we launched the fund to celebrate our 60th anniversary,” explained Paul.

“It was great to see the benefit of some incredible community work – and we have committed to doing that again.

“We chose the theme of men’s mental health after more than half of the workforce voted to select mental health and wellbeing as their preferred cause.

“It is also great to assist an organisation helping veterans, something that reflects the company’s longstanding commitment as a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant.

“This year’s funding will go a long way to help these projects provide grassroots support to the people that need it most.”

The five McPhillips grants have been awarded to:

4 All Foundation – A men’s outreach hub that holds weekly cafe sessions in Harlescott, Shrewsbury, offering free food and drink as well as activities such as boxing, gardening, walking football and arts.

Ex-Forces to Community’s– The Off the Back Foot project supporting veterans and their families in Telford & Wrekin to integrate into civilian life through mental health support, employment and advocacy.

Feed the Birds – Their Shropshire Men’s Garden Bird project is a befriending service, offering weekly one to one volunteer home visits for isolated men, using bird feeding to encourage connection.

Shrewsbury Men’s Shed – The organisation holds monthly cooking classes for shed members called ‘Healthy Eating Cookery Skills’, helping men who lack the skills or confidence to cook healthy meals from scratch.

Shropshire Rural Support – Through a project called Farmers' Pit Stop: Tackling Isolation in Rural Men, a series of evening-based meet ups are held for isolated rural men across the region. It is designed to help men who are unlikely to engage with traditional mental health services.

Sonia Roberts, trustee of Shropshire Community Foundation, praised McPhillips for their continued support of worthy causes, adding: “The fund is a fantastic initiative and for a second year running it will transform the lives of those involved in these projects.

“McPhillips are a company delivering real and tangible social value by supporting the community, and we’re proud to again partner with the company on this scheme.”