Each year, Severn Trent Water selects partner charities that work within three areas;
the natural environment, education, and health and well-being. Much of its assistance to these charities takes the
form of employee volunteering.
Ackers Trust
The Ackers Trust is a rural oasis in the heart of Birmingham that offers groups from all parts of the community the opportunity to feel close to nature, engage in environmental and sports activities, and feel a sense of pride in their local community, while rising above a number of social and cultural divides.
Birmingham Cares
Birmingham Cares enables employees in the Birmingham area and beyond to undertake employee volunteering challenges that help various charitable organisations in and around Birmingham.
Birmingham Cares is one of Severn Trent Water's partner charities. It offers development opportunities for businesses to make a difference in their local communities using time and skills. One of its initiatives is an annual Action Day. The 2006 event was called Fit for Fun, and it focused on improving children's health through promoting healthy eating and drinking, and sports activities.
Birmingham Cares were looking for businesses to send teams of up to ten people to support Fit For Fun. After they approached Severn Trent Water for support, two teams - from Finance and Facilities Management - volunteered to take part. They decided to carry out activities with a water-based theme.
In the months leading up to the event, the teams planned activities, carried out formal health and safety assessments, and obtained equipment such as activity cones and water containers. They also enlisted STW's stationery supplier, Banner Business Supplies, to donate pens, pencils and erasers as prizes for every child who took part.
The Finance team entertained the children in a fast game of rounders that combined brain-teasing questions on the day's theme and the need to conserve water. The Facilities team led the children through a relay race that involved using the same technique for carrying water that is used by children in parts of Africa today. The children who took part all had a great time, and both STW teams agreed that this was a fantastic event to support.
Bridle Gate
Bridle Gate is a small farm in Staffordshire. It aims to advance education by providing educational opportunities in animal husbandry and conservation skills for people with learning difficulties and special needs.
Cromford Venture Centre
Cromford Venture Centre is a residential centre housed in an old maltings. Children and their teachers - particularly
those from disadvantaged backgrounds - can undertake various outdoor, environmentally-based activities to improve their
core skills.
www.arkwrightsociety.org.uk
Crash IT
Crash IT takes in old computers renovates them and donates the end-products to the voluntary and community sector. The work is carried out by unemployed disabled people who are provided with training on rebuilding computer hardware which then equips them for the workplace.
Leicestershire Cares
Leicestershire Cares enables employees in the Leicestershire area and beyond to undertake employee volunteering challenges that help various charitable organisations in Leicestershire.
Stonebridge City Farm
Stonebridge is a community farm offering a public green space in inner-city Nottingham. It uses the work-based nature of a farm to help individuals to develop work, social and life skills. It offers work opportunities to disadvantaged young people and those with learning and physical difficulties, and it runs personal development courses such as rural skills, horticulture and conservation. It also offers educational visits to local schools.
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
VSO is a leading development charity with almost 2,000 skilled professionals currently working in over 40 countries. It responds to requests from governments and community organisations throughout Asia and Africa.
Wateraid
A non-governmental organisation (NGO) set up by the water industry 25 years ago in the belief that everyone should have access to clean water and effective sanitation.
