Dartford Renewable Energy Firm Sponsors Bear In ellenor Art Trail
Tarven Electrical Contractors Ltd t/a Tarven Solar Energy, a Dartford family-run renewable energy company, is sponsoring one of the sculptures in ellenor’s We’re Going on a Bear Hunt art trail this summer.
Tarven, which specialises in solar PV and battery storage installations, has backed one of the large fibreglass bears that will appear across Dartford town centre as part of the charity initiative.
Inspired by the animated adaptation produced by Lupus Films and the much-loved children’s book by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury, the trail will see colourful bears and cubs displayed in streets, parks and businesses across the town.
In total, 86 sculptures are being created, with around 80 forming the public trail. Local businesses, artists, schools and community groups from across the borough are taking part.
Tarven’s commercial manager Chris Syrocki said supporting the project was an easy decision for the family-run business.
“ellenor is the perfect charity for us because we are a family business and we think they are an amazing organisation,” he said.
“They help families during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Until you’ve been in that situation yourself, you can’t fully understand what it means to have that support.
“We all have bad days, but the families ellenor supports are going through incredibly tough times and sometimes people just need that extra bit of help.”
The company also has a personal connection with the hospice. ellenor’s palliative nurses cared for Jake’s grandmother, June Palmer, during her cancer treatment in 2004 and later supported his grandfather, Jack Palmer, during his final days at Darenth Valley Hospital in 2012.
Jake’s mother, Kay Syrocki, said the nurses were an invaluable source of support to the family at a time when they were emotionally struggling to care for their parents.
Tarven Electrical Contractors Ltd was founded nine years ago and has since expanded into renewable energy, specialising in bespoke solar PV systems, electrical energy storage systems (EESS) and EV charge points.
The company remains firmly family-run, with Jake working alongside his wife Katy, his parents Chris and Kay, his brother Sam, uncle Anton and brother-in-law Tony.
Chris said the family dynamic is one of the business’s strengths.
“It works because we’re a family and we can say what we want to each other,” he said.
“And customers like the fact that when they call us they’re speaking directly to a member of the family.”
ellenor provides specialist hospice care for people of all ages living with life-limiting illness across North Kent and Bexley, supporting patients and families at home, on its inpatient ward and through wellbeing services.
The Bear Hunt trail will transform Dartford into a family-friendly outdoor gallery during the summer holidays while raising vital funds for hospice care.
The larger bears will be decorated by professional artists as part of the Wild in Art programme, while smaller cubs will be designed by schools and community groups and displayed in shops and businesses.
Visitors will be able to follow the trail using a printed map or mobile app.
