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Community Involvement
Since its formation in 1995, AST has been headquartered in Radford, Nottingham, an inner-city area which is recognised by the Government as having problems related to social deprivation, unemployment, low educational achievement, etc.
Having invested in modern high-tech premises in the area, the Company's founder, Andrew Schlich, recognised the need for the Company to be involved in helping to promote the regeneration of the surrounding environment.
We were instrumental in founding the Nottingham based Independent Business Association (IBA) a non-profit making organisation which exists to support local companies in inner-city Nottingham for the benefit of the wider community.
The IBA provides a range of support services to local companies including:
- Organisation of public meetings, which have been attended on
a number of occasions by senior politicians
- Provision of a local business support hotline
- Assistance in locating grants, financial support, loans, etc.
- Frequent networking events
AST were instrumental in setting up TreesforNottingham, a not-for-profit organisation which helps local companies sponsor tree-plantings to improve the environment and promote their environmental credentials.
Please visit www.treesfornottingham.org.
AST sponsors the Nottingham
and Notts Refugee Forum.
The Forum is an independent voluntary organisation set up to help
and support asylum seekers and refugees living in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
It is not always understood that asylum seekers, who are often fleeing
persecution in their own country, do not have an automatic right to
receive benefits in this country whilst their applications for asylum
are being processed. This means that they often have no money to pay
for essentials such as housing and food. The NNRF provides an important
half-way-house for them during the processing of their applications
by the UK Immigration Office.
AST is delighted to be able to sponsor the NNRF, in the belief that
helping these disadvantaged people is an essential humanitarian gesture.
We also believe that longer-term benefits will derive from making
these people feel as comfortable as possible in the UK, as they may
one day be in a position to influence and improve relations between
the UK and their countries of origin.
AST also sponsors a local primary school, Unity Primary, to assist with the purchase of reading books and other educational materials. Headteacher Mrs Hilary Mitchell says:
"We are very grateful for the help and support given by AST. The money helps to provide extras for children which makes all the difference to their daily enjoyment of education."
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