Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has created a unique piece of artwork inspired by an unexpected gift from its 2024 House Charity, the Aldingbourne Trust, continuing its support for the organisation through a special collaboration between its design team and the Wood@Aldingbourne social enterprise.
The project began when Rolls-Royce presented the Trust with its final donation cheque at the close of 2024. In return, the marque received a handcrafted wooden model motor car produced by the Wood@Aldingbourne team. Made from Sapele hardwood and affectionately named the ‘Sapele Shadow’, the model now holds pride of place at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood. Its distinctive form and craftsmanship inspired one of the company’s designers to create a bespoke digital rendering, produced using the same advanced visualisation technology typically used to prepare early design concepts for clients’ commissioned motor cars.
The resulting artwork has been produced as a strictly limited series of just three framed prints, each individually signed and numbered by the designer to confirm its authenticity. One of the prints will be displayed in the Aldingbourne Trust café, while another has been presented to the Wood@Aldingbourne team who crafted the original model. The third will be auctioned at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting in April, helping to raise further funds for the charity’s work.
Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said the project represented a meaningful continuation of the partnership formed during the charity’s time as the marque’s House Charity in 2024.
“It was a privilege to work with Aldingbourne Trust as our House Charity in 2024. When we presented the final donation cheque, we received an unexpected gift – a model car made in Sapele wood by the Wood@Aldingbourne team. This delightful model inspired one of our designers to create a unique digital rendering, just as we would for a real client commission. We’re delighted that this artwork will be displayed in the Trust’s café and will also be offered as a significant prize in a fundraising auction. It’s a pleasure to extend our support for this wonderful organisation beyond 2024.”
Wood@Aldingbourne operates as a social enterprise under the Aldingbourne Trust, functioning as a financially self-sustaining environmental initiative. The group collects and repurposes wood from local sources, including the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, transforming reclaimed material into handcrafted products sold through the Trust’s gift shop. Any remaining wood is used to fuel the organisation’s biomass boiler system, ensuring that every piece of timber is put to productive use.
Founded in 1978, the Aldingbourne Trust provides support and opportunities for more than 1,500 people with learning disabilities, including autism spectrum conditions and Down’s syndrome, as well as individuals living with physical disabilities. Its work spans supported living services, training programmes and community outreach, with more than a dozen social enterprises helping to provide meaningful employment and skills development.
Many of these activities take place at the Aldingbourne Country Centre, a popular visitor attraction and conference venue located just a short drive from the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood. Through initiatives like Wood@Aldingbourne, the Trust combines environmental responsibility with social impact, creating sustainable opportunities for those it supports.
Throughout 2024, colleagues at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars raised funds to help support the charity’s work. The creation of the limited-edition artwork reflects the lasting relationships that can develop between the company and its House Charity partners, extending the impact of that support beyond the initial fundraising period.
Abigail Rowe of Aldingbourne Trust said the collaboration held special significance for the organisation and the individual who crafted the original wooden model.
“We were so appreciative of the fundraising efforts by Rolls-Royce staff, and the tremendous awareness we were able to generate through being their House Charity. It’s wonderful that the relationship has continued through this collaboration, which meant so much to the client who created the original wooden model, and will help raise further money for us. We’d like to thank the whole Rolls-Royce team, and particularly the talented designer who created these images for us.”
