Severn Trent

Severn Trent is committed to supporting WaterAid as its preferred development charity. Social responsibility is high on the agenda at Severn Trent and they recognise they have an important role to play in the community. Through its community affairs programme it can reach areas of real need in a variety of communities in the UK and beyond.

The Severn Trent Group of companies, employees, customers, business partners and community have raised over £590,000 for WaterAid, which is enough to provide a brighter future for some 40,000 people.

Severn Trent is an important partner for WaterAid and provides substantial support in a variety of ways: employee volunteering, a £55,000 annual corporate donation, gifts in kind and engaging support from new sources.

Severn Trent has a dedicated volunteer committee and supporters across the group involved in fundraising and awareness raising. The popular employee payroll lottery raises over £33,000 annually, and as regular giving, is vital for allowing WaterAid to plan projects in to the medium term.

Over 100 staff are involved in organising a year round programme of events, such as the rugged Severn Trent Mountain Challenge, a 32 mile Peak District walk; fantasy football competitions, dress down days and a giant Christmas raffle.

There is also a network of 50 employee volunteers who raise awareness of WaterAid's work by giving presentations to groups in the local community, such as Rotary, Inner Wheel, Lions and schools. Employees develop by gaining new skills and enhancing existing ones, and also benefit from networking opportunities and increased motivation.

Severn Trent facilitates the involvement of suppliers, contractors and advisers in helping address the need. They enthusiastically support corporate events at Silverstone Driving Centre, Uttoxeter Racecourse and Warwickshire Golf Tournament. Severn Trent customers are also involved in the effort to save lives by donating to WaterAid's annual campaign enclosed in customers' accounts, which last year raised over £22,000.

Employee fundraising currently supports sustainable projects in Ethiopia, and in particular the work of the Gonde Community Support Project. Local communities are involved in planning, developing and implementing their own water and sanitation schemes. Successes over the last year include hygiene education conducted in 22 villages with three schools benefiting from sessions.

The community have constructed 48 solid waste disposal pits, 83 pit latrines and conducted 29 cleaning campaigns. This has started to address the health hazards posed by lack of adequate sanitary facilities and indiscriminate disposal of wastewater and household rubbish. Over the next year WaterAid will be focusing on building the capacity of local partner organisations.

Employee volunteer Wayne Little of Severn Trent Systems recently represented Severn Trent on the annual supporters visit to see how money raised is being spent: "Severn Trent employee fundraising makes a fundamental difference to people's lives in Ethiopia. I saw for myself how safe water and sanitation are key to reducing poverty, bringing health benefits and also improving education, self-esteem and household income. I was impressed by the keen involvement of the people and how WaterAid's work enables people to empower themselves".

To find our more about Severn Trent or to get involved in activities, visit www.severntrent.com or email community.action@stplc.com.

Less than £15 will provide a person with safe water, adequate sanitation and knowledge of good hygiene practices for life, so Severn Trent's continuing support makes a fundamental and lasting difference. WaterAid looks forward to continuing and strengthening our partnership in the future, working together towards our vision of a world where everyone has access to safe water and effective sanitation.