22 June 2010
Volunteers from EDF Energy will be at Whipton Community Centre on Thursday (June 24) carrying out a range of tasks around the grounds.
The 11 volunteers from the energy company’s Gadeon House site on Exeter Business Park will be laying slabs and putting up a fence around the centre’s bin collection area. They will also be clearing rubbish and planting shrubs.
A host of clubs and local organisations make use of the centre on Pinhoe Road, including a lunch club, Exeter Friendship Group, dance, yoga and keep-fit classes. The building was formerly All Saints Church.
Richard Browning, EDF Energy’s Head of Customer Service South West, is among the volunteers.
He said: “We’re delighted to be helping out at Whipton. EDF Energy supports a range of local community and environmental projects and concerns. This is an important community centre for a range of local groups so we’re pleased to be able to help.”
Their efforts are part of EDF Energy’s Helping Hands scheme, which allows all staff at least two days of company time a year to support local community and environmental projects.
Saxon Spence, Devon county councillor for Pinhoe, said: “It is great news that EDF Energy volunteers are helping Whipton Community Centre - a vital community provision providing a meeting place for a wide range of local groups, including a much-appreciated luncheon club for older residents. The centre was created from the former parish church by years of hard work and dedication by local volunteers. This support from EDF Energy volunteers will be very much appreciated.”
The volunteers will be on site from 9.30am.
Ends
For more information please contact Dan Pritchard in the EDF Energy press office on 01392 813783.
Notes to editors:
EDF Energy
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, producing around one-fifth of the nation's electricity from its nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. The company provides power to a quarter of the UK’s population via its electricity distribution networks and supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customers. It is the number one supplier of electricity to major business in the UK.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK's nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear reactors, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants would generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.
Through Our Climate and Social Commitments EDF Energy has launched the biggest environmental and social programme of any UK energy company. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Read, Reduce, Reward and Team Green Britain. EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. Following the integration with British Energy in 2009, the company employs nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK.