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Community Initiative

Pay It
Forward

Finding the stories that deserve to be told. And doing something about them.

Every month, Home Hardware finds someone in our community who could benefit from a helping hand. Someone whose story deserves to be heard. Someone we can actually help. We call it Pay It Forward.

Nominate Someone Read Lucas's Story
How it works
1
Tell us their story Fill in the form and tell us about the person, group or project. The more you share, the better we understand how to help.
2
We read every nomination Our team reads everything personally. We might be in touch if we need to know more.
3
We do what we can Where we can help, we will. Products, materials, local connections. We focus on what will actually make a difference.
4
We share the story With permission, we share the story so others can see what is possible when communities look out for each other.
Submit a Nomination
2025 Scheme Launched
10+ Stores Participating
Local People Helping People
Free Always Free to Nominate
About the Scheme

We Are Part of This Community.
Not Just in It.

Behind every shop shelf, every product and every transaction, there are people. And in every community there are extraordinary individuals quietly facing extraordinary challenges. Families giving everything they have. Volunteers making a difference without recognition. Local heroes who rarely get the credit they deserve.

Pay It Forward is our way of finding those people and using whatever we have to help. It is not about what we sell. It is about what we can do together.

If you know of someone whose story deserves to be heard. A family facing a tough time, a school that needs a little extra, a community group trying to make their corner of the world better. We want to hear about it.

Nominations are free. You do not need to be a customer. You just need to know someone worth nominating.

People First, Always
Run by local store teams who know their communities personally. This is not a head-office programme. It is grassroots, and it is real.
Something Real, Not a Gesture
We try to make a tangible difference. Not token gestures. Every nomination is read by our team and considered carefully.
One Story at a Time
We share stories with permission because local kindness is contagious. Knowing someone else was helped makes the next person feel less alone.
No Promises, No Pressure
We cannot help everyone, and we will not pretend otherwise. But nominating is free and we take every single story seriously.
1947
Our First Story

Lucas's Sensory Garden

Lucas is 11 years old. He loves gardening, wildlife, birds, butterflies and the sound of rain on a greenhouse roof. The natural world is where he feels most himself. Safe, calm and completely at home.

His family had worked incredibly hard to fundraise enough for a greenhouse. They had the space and the love. What they needed was help bringing it to life. Planters, seeds, growing supplies. The things that would turn four walls of glass into the sensory garden Lucas had always dreamed of.

We were honoured to be asked. And simply glad to be able to help.

"We are blown away and it means so much to our family."

Lucas's Family
Read Lucas's Full Story
Lucas in his garden with his walking frame and greenhouse behind him
Story #001 · Pay It Forward
Lucas's Greenhouse Sensory Garden
Helping an 11-year-old discover the joy of growing, wildlife and the outdoors from inside a beautiful sensory greenhouse.
🌿 Gardening Supplies 🪴 Planters 🎨 Accessories
L
Lucas
South Ayrshire · 2025
Pay It Forward
Eligibility

Who Can Be Nominated?

Pay It Forward is open to anyone who could benefit from a helping hand. If you know someone whose story deserves to be heard, we want to hear about it.

Family doing DIY and garden work together
Individuals & Families
Someone facing a difficult time who could benefit from practical, meaningful support.
Volunteers at a community food bank
Local Charities
Registered or unregistered local charities quietly making a difference where it counts.
Teacher reading with young children in a primary school classroom
Schools & Nurseries
Schools or nurseries working on projects that need materials, equipment or a bit of a boost.
Community group gardening and volunteering together
Community Groups
Local groups and associations who bring people together and make their area a better place to live.
Youth football team gathered with their coach
Youth Groups & Clubs
Scouts, guides, football teams, after-school clubs. Any group supporting young people in their community.
Volunteers improving a community space together
Local Improvement Projects
Initiatives to improve parks, public spaces, community buildings and the local environment for everyone.
People enjoying a sensory garden with accessible paths
Sensory & Wellbeing Spaces
Gardens, accessible spaces or wellbeing projects for people with additional needs or health challenges.
Not Sure?
If you think someone deserves a helping hand, nominate them. We will read it.
What We Offer

What Kind of Support Can We Provide?

Every nomination is different, so our response always will be too. Here are some of the ways we can help. The right answer always depends on the story.

Kent & Stowe Garden Rake
Gardening Supplies
Seeds, compost, tools, pots and accessories to help projects take root.
Keter Cube Planter Anthracite
Planters & Compost
Raised beds, planters, compost and growing kits for community growing spaces.
CT1 Adhesive & Sealant
DIY Materials
Fixings, adhesives, filler, sealant and practical materials for improvement projects.
Sandtex Masonry Paint
Paint & Decorating
Paint, brushes, rollers and decorating supplies to transform spaces on a budget.
Tape measure
Tools & Equipment
Hand tools, power tools or equipment loans to help get a project off the ground.
Ronseal Shed & Fence Preserver
Community Space Support
Materials and supplies to help renovate, improve or create community spaces.
Community group working together
Promotion of Local Causes
Sharing your story in our stores, on social media and across our community platforms.
Volunteers improving their local community
Local Connections
Connecting people, projects and local businesses who can help each other in their communities.

Please note: Pay It Forward is not a cash funding programme. We support through products, materials, local connections or promotion. We cannot guarantee support for every nomination, but we read every story and do our best where we can. It costs nothing to nominate.

Make a Nomination

Tell Us Their Story

Tell us about the person, family, group or project you would like to nominate. There is no minimum. No story is too small.

Nomination Received. Thank You.

We have received your nomination and our team will read it carefully. If we need to know more, we will be in touch. Thank you for taking the time to share this story with us. It matters.

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Something Went Wrong

We were unable to submit your nomination right now. Please try again or contact us directly at [email protected]. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

Your Details
Please enter your name.
Please enter a valid email address.
Optional. Useful if we need to follow up quickly.
About Your Nomination
Please tell us who you are nominating.
Please select a nomination type.
Please tell us where they are based.
Please share their story with us.
Optional. But the more you tell us, the more targeted our support can be.
A Few Quick Questions
We will always check consent before sharing any personal story publicly. Please select an option.
Click to upload a photo or document
JPG, PNG, PDF or Word. Max 10MB. Optional, but it helps us understand the nomination.
Consent

Fields marked * are required. Nomination does not guarantee support will be provided. We read every story.

Pay It Forward

Know someone who deserves a helping hand?

Tell us their story. Whether it is a family, a school, a local charity or a project in your street. Your nomination could be the one that makes the difference.

Nominate Someone Today Read Lucas's Story Find Your Local Store