It’s thanks to the hard work and dedication of volunteers that the EIC are able to continue providing vital services to people struggling in our industry. Simon Hildred, regional manager at KSR Lighting and Chair of our East Midlands Committee, shares his story of how he got involved with the EIC.

More Than Meets the Eye

With 30 years in the industry under his belt, Simon was familiar with the EIC and knew that we offered help to people in the industry. However, it wasn’t until the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he saw people around him struggling with finances and mental health, that he decided to look more closely.

“We started looking at it, and it became more and more obvious that the charity really did a lot more than we originally thought, and it could help a lot more people. So we started getting really involved.”

Simon knew from then on that he wanted to raise awareness of the EIC, from there, the East Midlands Committee was born.

New Committee, New Opportunities

As a relatively new committee, Simon sees a real opportunity to attract fresh and diverse voices to East Midlands events.

Simon says they are “very fortunate in the East Midlands because we’re relatively new as a committee, so we are getting different people involved […] we’re still finding our feet, but we’re delighted that more and more people are getting involved.”

Simon says he’d like to see attendance at East Midlands events continue to grow and hopes to welcome more contractors and more women in the industry to future gatherings.

“Our mantle is: more inclusion. The more people want to come, and the more different people that want to come, the more likely you are to sell out the events and raise cash for the charity. But not only that, raise the awareness of how the charity can help people”, he says.

Support That Goes Deeper

One of the things that resonates most with Simon about the EIC is the breadth of support it offers.

Through conversations with friends and colleagues in the industry, he’s seen first-hand the impact the EIC has had on individuals – from those going through difficult divorces who were offered legal help, to friends whose family members accessed mental health support through the charity.

“You never know when you’re going to need somebody. That’s why we want to get involved. That’s why I want to raise the awareness and raise money. Because it’s not just for the guy who falls off a ladder and breaks his leg, it’s all inclusive.”

Simon says the most rewarding part of working with the EIC is seeing the impact that the events have on people.

“As soon as you see all those people in that room enjoying themselves and at the end when you announce what you’ve done, there’s no better feeling.”

Simon’s Advice?

“Get involved. It’s definitely worth it. There isn’t that much time commitment, and you never know if you’re going to be the one who needs help in a week, a month, or even in six month’s time. Be positive, help out, be active – because the feel-good factor is amazing.”

If you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved—whether as a volunteer, supporter, or committee member—click here to find out more about the ways you can make a difference.