Dungeness B staff raise over £2,500 for Air Ambulance during ‘The Big Week!’
Charity fundraising for the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance got off to a flying start at Dungeness B as staff pledged over £2,500 for the charity.
The fundraising efforts were part of a range of activities at the nuclear power station branded by staff as ‘The Big Week!’ which saw the launch of a suite of new training rooms, including a new safety centre to promote best safety practice at the site.
Power station employees were able to view some of the new training rooms and experience the power station's new Visitor Centre, which launched earlier this year. EDF Energy’s mobile product service team were also on hand to provide information on EDF Energy’s products and services. The company pledged money to charity on behalf of staff signing up for EDF Energy’s services. A treasure hunt was also held in the visitor centre in a bid to raise money for Marie Curie, the company’s charity of the year.
Martin Pearson, Dungeness B station director said: “2013 is proving to be a year of celebration at Dungeness B, we started the year with the launch of the visitor centre and within a few months we had welcomed a thousand visitors to the site. In April we marked 30 years of safe generation and here we are now marking the opening of several key facilities at the site which staff will be able to use to further enhance their learning and development around key areas such as safety. I am proud that employees at the site have also taken the opportunity to raise money for the vital service provided by the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance.
Jill Playle, Director of Communications at Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance, said: “It was fantastic to see the enthusiasm that the staff at Dungeness B have for the Air Ambulance. We are very grateful for their support and the significant funds that they have raised. This will directly impact on the lives of those patients we attend on a daily basis and undoubtedly save lives.”
Dungeness B visitor centre
The Dungeness B visitor centre was opened on 15 February to allow visitors to see nuclear power for themselves. The centre was designed to capture the imagination of children and adults alike with hands-on displays and guided tours of the power station.
EDF Energy’s Chief Executive Vincent de Rivaz and local MP Damian Collins launched the new centre which is on the Dungeness B site in Kent.
The timing of the opening is particularly significant for the area as Dungeness B marked 30 years of low carbon generation this year. The station has generated power for 1.5million homes since 3 April 1983.
Sustainability has been at the heart of the development of the centre. It was decided to cut carbon emissions by refurbishing an existing building rather than creating a new one. Furthermore, features were incorporated to minimise the impact of the building on the environment and landscape, including a rainwater harvesting system, using reclaimed material for access ramps and walkways around the centre and using lighting which reduces light pollution. An electric car charging point will also mean that eco-friendly travellers can leave their vehicle on charge while they tour the power station.
The Visitor Centre is normally be open Monday-Friday from 9-4pm. The majority of the tours will be organised for schools and educational groups. However, members of the public will also be able to attend by appointment.
Visitors will be given an introductory talk about how the station operates, before being given a guided tour through selected parts of the plant. To book a visit the public can contact the station via: dungenessBtours@edf-energy.com or call 01797 343728.