Just an hour - 2007

Durham

Leonard Cheshire – June 2007
Several volunteers paid a return visit to the Leonard Cheshire home at Crook which provides support to disabled people.  40 hours were spent tidying up the gardens at the home which provides residential care.

Newcastle / Northumberland

Briardene – June 2007
A team of ten employees took part in a challenge to help tidy Briardene at Whitley Bay.  Tasks included cutting back trees, clearing weeds, removing stones from the river and clearing pathways.

Rainbow Trust – Fernstone – May 2007
Volunteers undertook the task of renovating garden furniture and bringing the gardens at Fernstone under control.  Rainbow Trust Children's Charity provides practical and emotional support to families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness.  The home at Fernstone, Hexham provides respite for families in this situation. For more information on the charity – www.rainbowtrust.org.uk

Wallsend St Peter's CofE Aided Primary School – May 2007
Operations people who are currently working in the Wallsend area spent a day at the school helping to create a more exciting play area for the children.

Leonard Cheshire Challenge – May 2007
Volunteers support out sponsorship of the Leonard Cheshire weekend at Calvert Trust where disabled people are given the opportunity to experience activities such as sailing, abseiling, archery etc.  Volunteers ‘buddy’ a Leonard Cheshire client over the weekend and help them achieve their aims.  Benefit:  disabled people given the opportunity to experience activities beyond their expectations.

Dilston Challenge - April 2007
Following a donation through our Care for Safety challenge, a number of volunteers took part in a challenge at Dilston College.  The college is located in Corbridge Northumberland, it is one of only two MENCAP Colleges in England, there is another in Wales.  The college caters for young people with learning difficulties providing the opportunity and assisting young people to make the transition from the school environment to adulthood, so that they may live life as independently as possible and attain their true potential.  Volunteers created a wheelchair friendly raised bed for the students as well as other activities.

West Allotment Community Centre – April 2007
A group of residents have taken responsibility for the community hall.  They have raised funds and have made considerable improvements and the hall is widely used by the community.  Our volunteers helped to redecorate the main hall and entrance room.

Teesside

Daisy Chain – May 2007
The Daisy Chain Project is based at Calf Fallow Farm at Norton.  Their aim is to build an overnight respite and family care centre for children with autism and special needs.  A team of volunteers planted a vegetable plot and tidied the gardens ready for the centre’s forthcoming open day.

Mowden Primary School, Darlington – April 2007
This was a challenge put forward by one of our employees.  Along with members of her family who are also employed by Northumbrian Water tasks were undertaken to improve the wildlife garden for the children of Mowden School, Near Darlington.

Clow Beck Eco Centre – March 2007
The Clow Beck centre is situated at Croft on Tees.  Volunteers created a woodland path for educational purposes.