A GARDEN room company that uses aviation technology to create outdoor offices, spas, gyms and studios, has launched a community foundation to help local good causes with a cash boost.

Flintshire firm Rubicon Garden Rooms is asking community groups, projects, associations, locally based charities and even individuals who need support in North East Wales, to apply for a donation of between £100 and £500.

John Lyon, Rubicon Garden Rooms managing director, said he wants to give something back to the area where the firm is based, after celebrating five years specialising in the garden room business and now being on track for a record £1m turnover this year.

The Rubicon Garden Rooms Community Foundation is being backed by Mark Tami, MP for Alyn and Deeside, who visited the firm’s showrooms on Deeside Enterprise estate to launch the foundation.

Anyone championing a local cause in Flintshire or Wrexham, can apply to receive a donation of between £100 and £500, with an initial pot of £2,000 to be distributed this year.

Mr Tami said: “I think the idea of setting up a community Foundation is a really good one. Whatever the size of the business, big or small, I think it really helps to show that yes you are a growing business and that you’re also prepared to put something back into the local area as well.

“Even relatively small sums of money can make a big difference to a five-aside football team or a Girl Guides troupe.

“It shows that Rubicon, a local company that employs local people, has a big heart because this is something you don’t have to do but it is certainly very worthwhile.”

Mr Lyon, a former Airbus engineer, set up the business after spotting a demand from people working from home or running businesses from home, who needed extra space to improve their work life balance.

He said: “We’ve come a long way in the last five years. It’s been quite a journey growing the business to this point where we are on track for our first £1m turnover.

“We’d like to give something back to the local community and we decided the best way was to launch this Community Foundation.

“We’ve set aside a £2,000 fund to begin with and if it’s successful hopefully we can continue it in future.”

“We are very grateful to the local community for their support over the last five years and we thought it would be nice to give something back.

“We want to share some out among worthy causes in North East Wales.

“There is a fantastic community spirit in this area and if we can just do a little bit to help then that will make us very happy.”

Anyone who would like to apply can email rubicongardenrooms@gmail.com for an application form. This includes supplying contact details for the project, group, or individual who will benefit, and a short explanation of how the money will be used.

Completed application forms need to be emailed to deb@ceidiog.com