Bunnings - Community
Bunnings has a longstanding commitment to supporting the communities in which it operates by engaging with local communities through facilitated fundraising opportunities, product and gift card donations and providing hands-on D.I.Y. support.
During the financial year, Bunnings’ traditional areas of support continued to bring communities together with sausage sizzles, hands-on activities and in-store fundraising to create positive impact, after facing disruptions in Australia and New Zealand due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Bunnings contributed and helped community organisations raise more than $47.4 million through more than 70,000 activities.
The Bunnings team was proud to provide hands-on assistance to local community groups, including schools, kindergartens, nursing homes and hospitals, completing meaningful work such as building community gardens, completing painting projects and conducting educational workshops. Bunnings also regularly donated products and gift cards to support community activities and fundraising.
In August 2022, Bunnings Trade partnered with industry-backed mental health and suicide prevention not-for-profit organisation, MATES in Construction (MATES). To help raise awareness and vital funds, Bunnings Trade hosted a national Australian Trade BBQ in all stores for the first time, and released a co-branded, black version of the iconic Bunnings Trade hoodie, with all profits from sales going directly to MATES. Bunnings raised and contributed $500,000 from the hoodie sales, helping MATES to expand its reach in suicide prevention for the Australian construction industry.
Bunnings also committed to improving mental health support by partnering with Movember in New Zealand in November 2022, where a limited edition, co-branded black hoodie was also released to help raise funds. The campaign raised over NZ$63,000 in funds for Movember, supporting the organisation to expand its grassroots support for suicide prevention and mental health in the community.
Throughout the 2023 financial year, Bunnings team members showed their commitment and passion for the communities in which they live and work. This included running local fundraisers to benefit community groups, including Lions Australia, the Good Friday Appeal, R U OK?, The Salvation Army and Rotary Clubs.
In addition to contributions supported by local Bunnings stores, major donations were made to community groups, including Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, The Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund, GIVIT, RizeUp Australia and the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation. Bunnings is also a proud supporter of the Red Cross Lifeblood team, with Bunnings team members making more than 2,800 blood donations during the 2023 financial year.
Through the annual Australian Red Shield Appeal, Bunnings helped to fundraise and contribute more than $84,000 to The Salvation Army, with more than 160 local teams welcoming volunteers into their Bunnings store.
Bunnings supported community football clubs in partnership with the Australian Football League through the Bunnings Helping Hand Program; a national grants initiative developed to help clubs build and upgrade female-friendly facilities. This saw 10 $20,000 grants awarded to support clubs and the continued growth of the women’s game at a local level. As part of Bunnings’ partnership with New Zealand Rugby, the Bunnings Rugby Assist initiative was created to support the growth of grassroots rugby and make a meaningful difference to the wider community, with a total of NZ$300,000 donated to 10 local clubs in funding and Bunnings product and materials.
In the lead up to Christmas, Australian stores supported Share the Dignity’s It’s in the Bag campaign for the sixth consecutive year. In just over two weeks, more than 67,000 bags of personal hygiene products were collected for women and girls experiencing homelessness and domestic violence. The bags were distributed to women and girls in need across Australia, helping to brighten their festive season. The Bunnings Australian National Store Support Centre also came together to donate gifts and vouchers to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Cheer campaign, supporting families and individuals in the community.
In November 2022, Bunnings New Zealand supported the I Got Your Back Pack campaign for the third year, with customers and team members invited to donate toiletries and toys to support families in refuges as a result of domestic violence.
Bunnings’ commitment to supporting communities in times of crisis was demonstrated in several ways during the year.
Devastating floods impacted Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania in October 2022, which saw many communities and Bunnings’ team members and stores affected. Bunnings assisted relief efforts by supplying $25,000 in products and materials. Team members also came together nationally to support The Salvation Army with a national Reds Run sausage sizzle, which helped raise more than $400,000.
In January 2023, extreme weather and floods impacted communities across the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia. Bunnings provided support through product donations and by hosting a state-wide Reds Run sausage sizzle fundraiser, where Bunnings received additional volunteer support from The Salvation Army. Western Australian communities supported in great numbers, and together, Bunnings raised and contributed more than $50,000. These funds were donated to The Salvation Army to support impacted communities through the emergency and recovery phases of the Western Australian floods.
In January and February 2023, severe destruction was caused in New Zealand by floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, with many New Zealanders losing their homes and livelihoods. Team members provided on-the-ground support in the community, helping with the clean-up alongside volunteers and agencies. Bunnings assisted relief efforts by supplying more than NZ$100,000 in products and materials, including gumboots, clean-up gear, personal protective equipment, storage supplies, water, batteries, generators and gas cylinders to community groups, civil defence and emergency services who distributed these essentials goods where they were needed most. Bunnings team members came together for a Reds Run sausage sizzle, with all funds going to New Zealand Red Cross to support impacted communities through the emergency and recovery phase. Together with community members, Bunnings raised and contributed more than NZ$35,000.
During May and June 2023, Bunnings supported FightMND for the fifth consecutive year, in its efforts to find a cure for motor neurone disease, helping to raise and contribute more than $1.5 million. Beanies were sold in all Australian stores and trade centres, and via the Bunnings website.
In May 2023, Bunnings supported Legacy’s Centenary Torch Relay to pay homage to and acknowledge veterans’ families, with fundraising opportunities in stores and activations held at community family days as part of the worldwide event.