Former Goodyear workers donate £3.4m to charities

Goodyear workers have donated more than £3.4m from their sick pay fund to charities across the region

Former Goodyear workers in Wolverhampton have donated more than £3.4m from their sick pay fund to charities across the West Midlands.

Members of the 5/344 transport and general workers benevolent fund have supported 140 organisations since the Wolverhampton plant closed in December 2016.

The tyre company's sick pay fund was set up in 1985 to support workers’ families through periods of illness, but it soon became a way for ex-employees to give back to their community.

“It’s the end of a journey about kindness, decency and care," said chairman trustee Cyril Barrett.

Cyril Barrett said the donations had helped to "change people's lives"

“I believe that’s what the ex-Goodyear workers were all about," Mr Barrett explained.

"We didn’t give any money to anybody, there was due diligence – we did projects that will help to change people’s lives, including equipment at hospitals that has transformed treatment."

In June 2015, US firm Goodyear announced it would be closing its only UK manufacturing plant, with the loss of all 330 jobs.

It signalled the end of almost 90 years of tyre manufacturing at the Stafford Road site.

More than £650,000 has since been donated to hospitals across the region through the fund.

Goodyear, on Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, closed in December 2016

Former workers attended a celebration event at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital on Friday.

The event included the fund’s final donation – an ECG machine for the paediatric unit, which will mean children will not have to go to the site’s heart and lung centre to access one.

Over the years, the hospital has received about half a million pounds from the workers.

Gwen Nuttall, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust said there "doesn’t seem adequate words to describe just how fantastic this gesture is."

Ms Nuttall said: “Cyril has spoken a lot about a love for the NHS and the desire of members to leave a legacy now the fund is coming to an end.

"Rest assured, what you have done over the years has absolutely provided a legacy”

Former Goodyear worker Wayne Devaney said he was "so proud"

Since 2016, while some workers retired, others took new jobs in manufacturing in Wolverhampton and beyond.

All speak fondly about a sense of family and belonging that was unique to working at Goodyear.

“I am so proud and I’ve had tears in my eyes”, said former employee Wayne Devaney.

“It’s an eight year journey since the plant closed, and this is the last chapter. And we’ve completed it.

In the year the factory closed, the workers donated more than £1m for a redevelopment of Compton Care’s headquarters.

In 2022, Acorns Children's Hospice in Walsall received £280,000 to help transform an arts and crafts room for children with life-limiting conditions.

The benevolent fund was closing because it was empty and the good work had been done, explained Mr Barrett.

“I hope and pray the ex-Goodyear workers and their families are proud of themselves," he said.

"It’s been about decency, care and being positive. Even in difficult times for which everyone goes through, people have lost their jobs but they still come out the other end wanting to reach out and help”.