Timothy Taylor’s colleagues recently spent a hands-on volunteering day with the Joint Activities & Motor Education Service, better known as JAMES, seeing first-hand how a £2,500 donation from the brewery’s Charity Committee is helping support practical learning opportunities for young people.
On Thursday 2 July 2026, Scott Cameron, Kevin Moore, and Dave Jafrate visited JAMES for a tour of its facilities, including its workshops and classrooms, before getting involved in a practical project to help paint and protect one of the charity’s canal barges.
JAMES works with young people, families, and communities across Bradford, Keighley and the surrounding district, offering practical support, education, training, and development opportunities. Its work includes hands-on learning through workshops and canal-based projects, helping young people build confidence, develop real-world skills, and gain experience in a supportive environment.
Earlier this year, the Timothy Taylor’s Charity Committee donated £2,500 to JAMES following a nomination from Dave Jafrate. The funding helped the charity get the barge out of the water so that essential maintenance and restoration work could take place. The volunteering day gave Timothy Taylor’s colleagues the opportunity to see the impact of the donation in action and contribute directly to the next stage of the project.
Paul Tiffany, Chair of the Timothy Taylor’s Charity Committee, said: “The Charity Committee is proud to support organisations that make a genuine difference in our local community, and JAMES is a fantastic example of that.
“Their work gives young people practical skills, confidence, and opportunities that can have a lasting impact. It was especially rewarding for colleagues to see how our donation is being used and to play a small part in helping the project move forward.”
The day also carried a special personal connection for Dave Jafrate. In 2014, Dave took part in a charity challenge that saw a barge pulled by hand from Liverpool to Leeds, raising more than £40,000 for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. The barge used for that challenge was donated by JAMES – and, remarkably, it was the same barge the Timothy Taylor’s team worked on during the volunteering day.
Kevin Metcalfe, Operations Manager at JAMES, said: “We are very grateful to Timothy Taylor’s for both the donation and the time given by Scott, Kevin, and Dave. The barge is much more than a boat – it is a practical learning space that allows young people to gain skills, work as part of a team, and take pride in something they have helped restore and maintain.
“Support like this helps us continue offering meaningful opportunities to the young people we work with.”
The visit was a fulfilling experience for everyone involved and highlighted the importance of practical, community-focused support. It also demonstrated how charitable donations can have a direct and visible impact, helping local organisations continue their valuable work.
