Member Article

BathEmpire.com flies the flag for local charity

A one-off Union Jack bath created by online bathroom retailer BathEmpire.com is flying the flag for a local charity with a £1,000 donation.

BathEmpire.com has made the donation to the Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre, the charity chosen by artist John McKeown who came up with the striking design for one of its baths.

The bath, transformed with a graffiti-inspired interpretation of the iconic red, white and blue flag, will now take pride of place in the reception of the company’s new headquarters on the Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate in Nuneaton.

And to mark the donation, the slipper bath was filled with 1,000 BathEmpire.com rubber ducks to represent each pound being given to the charity that helps local refugees and asylum seekers.

Bhopinder Basi, CEO of Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre, said the donation would be put towards the charity’s trust, known as the Coventry Destitution Fund, of which the Bishop of Coventry is patron.

Bhopinder said: “We are very grateful for this donation as it will help us to provide food, clothing and shelter for those that are destitute in Coventry and are denied any access to welfare services.

“Every month we might be assisting around 100 people who are not allowed access to benefits and are reliant on our support.

“One of the things we like to remind people is that the presence of newcomers in our city, both refugees and migrants, has a lot of positive benefits. There is a real need to acknowledge the wealth creation of migrants.

“It is great to have the support of BathEmpire.com, a company whose founder came to this country from China at the age of 17 and within just five years launched his own business which has grown so quickly and employs around 100 people in the local area. “

John’s creation was inspired by his desire to reflect today’s multicultural society, with the structured lines and borders of the traditional Union Jack design being blurred to reflect more freedom and movement.

John, a well-known street artist and founder of Coventry-based Bring Colour, said: “I am delighted that this opportunity given to me by BathEmpire.com has allowed my work to benefit a charity that does such great work with disadvantaged people.

“They are a forgotten part of society. A lot of people cannot speak English so cannot access some of the services that are available. The Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre is a first step for them in helping to get on their feet.”

David O’Reilly, from BathEmpire.com, said the intention had been to sell the bath but the company was so impressed with the design that it decided to keep it and make the charitable donation.

David said: “It will definitely be an eye-catching centrepiece at our new headquarters and is bound to add the wow factor to the reception area. It has already created a real buzz when we have taken it to shows and exhibitions.

“We are delighted to have made this donation to the Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre and to support the charity in its work to relieve hardship and distress for local refugees and asylum seekers.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .