SEVERN Trent Water’s Community Fund has come to the aid of the community over the past 12 months and has further pledged £10million over the next five years to the development and education of their community, writes Ben Workman.
The Community Fund set up by the Coventry-based water company has funded 11 projects focused on community engagement and has also helped vulnerable customers over the last year.
The scheme, launched in January 2020, has seen £297,823 granted to local projects including £10,000 for the planting of Cherry Blossom trees in the Japanese Peace Garden in Coventry’s War Memorial Park and £198,460 for Historic Coventry Trust to rejuvenate 70 acres of Woodland.
The impact of the Community Fund has not just affected the environment, but it has been felt within the community. Severn Trent has provided 11,632 customers with payment support and helped a further 11,662 vulnerable customers which received extra payment and financial support over the last year.
Helping and supporting customers is at the centre of Severn Trent’s philosophy. “Our headquarters are in Coventry, so for us it’s really important we play a proactive role in both Coventry and across the wider region,
Liv Garfield, CEO of Severn Trent, said if the last year had taught everyone anything it was the importance of being part of a community and taking care of one another.
“Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to supporting them at every stage to deliver long-lasting change.”
The Community Fund has enabled Severn Trent to give back to the community around Coventry.
The fund provided Foleshill Community Centre with a grant worth £9,941 which allowed it to build two brand new community gardens. A green space created just for the local community.
Helen Needham, operations manager at Feeding Coventry, said: “The funding provided by Severn Trent has helped Feeding Coventry create two wonderful and welcoming green spaces in Foleshill.
“We are looking forward to sharing our gardens with families from the local community to cultivate not only plants but also people.”
Severn Trent has also supported the Coventry City of Culture through a number of projects including Coventry 2021’s flagship environmental programme Green Futures and sponsoring the Piccolo spiegeltent in the Assembly Festival Garden
A total of 69 out of 71 young people from the company’s apprentice and graduate schemes are now working in roles across Coventry and Warwickshire.
