We are proud to provide a sustainable, affordable, clean and safe water supply and to manage and treat the waste water returned to us in a way that protects the environment.
28/07/2008
Water workers have carried out an ace of spadework at a North East college.
Ten employees from Northumbrian Water spent a day at Mencap’s Dilston College, Corbridge, doing various gardening duties under the company’s ‘Just an hour’ scheme.
The college, which teaches young people with learning disabilities skills needed for a successful transition to adult life, welcomed help to spruce up an organic vegetable garden.
It took more than 73 hours, in total, of hard work by Harriet Judd from Boldon, Chris Errington from Sunderland, Colum Goodchild and Steve Clifford from Durham, Eric Stein from Newcastle, Louis Mosquera from Gateshead and Craig Holiday, Jamie Langeland, Janet Ayre and Les Ammon, from Essex, to build a hard standing access path which will give wheelchair access to raised vegetable beds.
The green fingered team also put up a new fence for the livestock enclosure, which houses a pair of rare Kune Kune pigs along with chickens, geese and goats. Vegetable beds were planted with organic cabbages and spring onions, which will soon be sold to raise funds for the college.
Northumbrian Water’s ‘Just an hour’ scheme gives employees the opportunity to spend at least 15 hours of paid, work time a year improving local communities in the company’s supply area - from Berwick to North Yorkshire and across to the Pennines.
Harriet Judd, who works in Northumbrian Water’s asset strategy department, said: “It was a real pleasure and very fulfilling knowing that we can make a difference to the students’ lives at Dilston College. Our team also used it as an opportunity for a team building exercise.”
Derek Hull from Dilston College said: “We are really pleased with the outcome of all the hard work carried out by Northumbrian Water’s ‘Just an hour’ team. The students will benefit greatly from the improvements.”
Since the ‘Just an hour’ scheme was launched in 2002, Northumbrian Water employees have spent more than 20,000 hours working on local community projects and improving the environment.
The main college campus, complete with ruined castle and 17th century chapel, is set in nine acres of park, woodland and gardens. Facilities include a café, bakery, training kitchen and refectory, gardens, workshops, greenhouses, aviary, animal house, vehicle valeting bay and facilities for leisure, arts and outdoor pursuits.
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For further information please contact Carolyn King on 0191 301 6722.