Cromwell Polythene is proud to call Sherburn in Elmet our home, having been part of this thriving community for over two decades. It is not just the home of the business, but that of many of our team too, and after the 20-plus years we have been here, we have always embarked on projects and activities to try and support our local community. Whether it’s through employment opportunities, school partnerships, local environmental initiatives or sponsorships, we strive to give back to the people and places that have helped shape our success.
We are big believers in supporting the community that supports us. As a family-run business, we have built strong local roots, and we’re proud of it. That’s why we regularly sponsor, support and work alongside local groups, charities, and events that make a real difference in our area. Hence, our sponsorship and support for local teams and groups are crucial to us, and something we consistently do year after year.
Continued Support
Since 2018, we have been proud sponsors of the local football club, Sherburn White Rose, supporting the same team for the last three years, our unstoppable Under 8’s squad. After our former sponsored team disbanded in 2022, we were still very keen to support the club and began looking for a new team to support. This is when we were approached by the then Under-6s captain, Tom Crossley, who was looking for a kit sponsor for the newly formed youth squad. Of course, Cromwell was thrilled to support and soon the young footballers began their phenomenal season with the Cromwell Logo on their kits. We didn’t want to end our relationship there, we wanted to keep in touch with the team, and hear updates about their season ahead, to which coach Tom began to send match reports through, showcasing the team’s ever-growing success. Members of our staff are also attending some matches to watch the team play, further strengthening our relationship with the squad.
The team also helped us with our own initiatives of supporting the planet through the means of a local litter pick. We have now organised two clean-ups with the team, their parents, the coaches and Cromwell staff and tackled the litter in and around the Sherburn White Rose pitches. This was a great learning opportunity for the youngsters to promote sound waste management and deter them from littering. It proved to be an eye-opening experience for them, as they saw the amount of litter that was collected, this is hopefully embedding good practices for them in the future. Now not only have the young players taken home some excellent lessons, but the pitch on which they practice, train and play is clean, tidy and litter-free, helping aid environmental success.
We are delighted to be able to follow the under 8’s journey, and hope it continues long into the future.
New Sponsorships
When we began our plans for 2025 – 2026, we decided to sponsor more sporting groups, to extend our local sponsorship – this time, the search was much easier, as we selected the Sherburn Bears Rugby Club, which was picked for a particular reason as five members of staff play for the squad. We take great pride in supporting our staff, whether it is in the workplace or outside of working hours. Coupling this with our desire to sponsor a new local team, it was a no-brainer to sponsor the group in which Cromwell staff participate. Team Captain Kyle, who we know better as our Goods In Coordinator, and four other staff members spend their free time training and playing in the amateur rugby club and were looking for a new sponsor, so we jumped at the chance to show our support.
And just like our youth football team, we also carried out a litter pick with staff and players, once again tidying up the area in which the squad train, play and have their matches. The area is also coupled with the cricket pitch, and local park, combining the field to be a hot spot for activity but also litter. However after our litter pick in late May, this waste issue is now a thing of the past, and the area is clean, tidy and litter free – once again boasting excellent environmental benefits.
The team regularly keep us updated on their performance, and many other staff members go to cheer on the team at matches, not only as sponsors but as a Cromwell family. We wish them luck for their season ahead.
Looking ahead, we’re also thrilled to be in the process of sponsoring Monk Fryston Under 11’s Football Team for the upcoming seasons. This new partnership reflects our continued commitment to encouraging youth sport and supporting grassroots teams in our local area. With many of our employees and their families connected to these community clubs, it’s a privilege to be able to contribute to their growth and success. We look forward to seeing the Monk Fryston team develop both on and off the pitch, and to sharing in their achievements as they represent the spirit of teamwork, perseverance, and local pride.
Bags of help
Alongside the sponsored teams, we support the community in additional ways, such as organising litter picks and clean-ups and encouraging others to join. We also help aid the supply of other litter picks which local groups and individuals organise. We have donated our litter picking bags to many different clean-up campaigns, including the local Girl Guides and Scouts, who have carried out many clean ups in the area, and a group of volunteers who team up every month to tidy the centre of the town.
Aside from the bags for the litter picks, we have also donated several cartons of refuse sacks to local events and causes, to help line their waste bins and support the reduction of littering. In particular, we regularly donate to the 2 large annual events in Sherburn, the Gala and Picnic in the Park, which often see up to 7,000 attendees. We provide each of the events with a range of liners to help capture and contain the waste created by the public, helping keep the areas clean and tidy.
For us, giving back isn’t just a nice thing to do—it’s part of how we do business, and it helps us live out our goal of making the world cleaner, greener, and more resourceful—starting right here at home.