20 July 2010
Volunteers from EDF Energy are returning to Oak Grove College in Worthing to work in the garden.
Tomorrow (July 21) the team plan to build on the work they started in the winter. They will be planting, working in the outdoor arts and crafts hut and tidying up the compost heaps.
Organiser Kerrie Churchill, from EDF Energy’s supply business, said: “We wanted to go back to the school to see what had changed. It will be good to see some ongoing progress. We did some planting at the front of the school over the winter and started work on a ramp for better wheelchair access. The children got involved in the tasks and they were smiling throughout. It is great to be able to give something back to our local community.”
In November, EDF Energy employee Lorien Mottau co-ordinated the team’s last volunteer day at the school in The Boulevard for colleagues from the local office in Southdown View Road, Worthing. Lorien’s brother Daniel attends the school for children with learning disabilities and it has made a big impact on his life.
At the time she said: “My brother absolutely loves his school, the teachers and the opportunities they give him so I wanted to give something back. The passion of the people who run the garden is incredible. They have so many plans and ideas – it is infectious. The garden empowers the children enormously, gives them something fun to do and is a really nice space for them to be in as well.”
Children from Oak Grove College regularly work in the garden, which has its own chickens, vegetable plot, herb garden, animal artworks, mosaics, climbing wall and water features.
Jennie Rollings, horticultural coordinator at Oak Grove, said: “The school opened four years ago and a lot was spent on the buildings but not the grounds, which resembled a demolition site. It is a huge area and hadn’t been developed. Over the years we have ploughed on and done as much as we can. When we get volunteers in we can push projects forward and do bigger or more difficult things. The voluntary support is what makes this garden so special because it’s a community effort. EDF Energy has been our biggest business supporter.
“Everyone loves working on the garden and takes such a keen interest. When you’re normally working in front of a computer all day, as many of our volunteers are, working in the outdoors is such a change. The work from our helpers really does make such a difference to us. The kids are very aware and it’s great for them to work with businesses as well.”
The staff are helping out in the garden through EDF Energy’s staff volunteering programme, the Helping Hands scheme. Through this initiative staff can give two days of paid work time each year to help local charities and community groups with voluntary work.
ENDS
For more information please contact Niamh Arnett in the EDF Energy Press Office on 01293 509153.
Notes to editors:
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, producing around a 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.