Thirteen volunteers from npower’s offices in Burntwood got out from behind their desks, donned jeans, boots and gloves and gave a day to re-vamping Lichfield’s Family Justice Centre South East Staffs in Upper St John Street.

1. PRESS RELEASE
28 May 2012
LUCKY 13 FOR LICHFIELD VOLUNTEERING
Thirteen volunteers from npower’s offices in Burntwood got out from behind
their desks, donned jeans, boots and gloves and gave a day to re-vamping
Lichfield’s Family Justice Centre South East Staffs in Upper St John Street.
The centre is attached to Pathway’s Hope Centre. Some 36 agencies, both
statutory and voluntary, are involved, including Pathway Project, Citizens
Advice Bureau, Staffordshire Police, Independent Domestic Violence
Advocates, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Staffordshire Social
Services, Victim Support, Changes Mental Health Services, Adsis and South
Staffs PCT Lifestyle Service. It is somewhere where victims of domestic or
sexual abuse can find all the services they need to support them, all in one
place.
Centre Manager, Kathy Bryers, is delighted with the volunteers’ rapid
response to the cry for help, saying: “We wanted to make the entrance to our
building as warm and welcoming as possible for our clients. We are tucked
behind the Pathway Project building and knew we could do with a clean, crisp
first impression with moss and stones cleared away and doors and windows
glossed. As an addition, we thought it would be lovely to have some colourful
plants and were delighted when npower said it would contribute £150 so that
we could buy what we needed. The result is a complete transformation.”
The volunteers approached the task with gusto. Team leader, Jenny Knowles,
a Bid Writing Manager, is delighted with the results of the day, saying: “This

2. type of programme is a fantastic way of developing leadership and
teambuilding skills and it gives something back to our local community, too.
“I have volunteered before but it is the first time for practically everyone else
and they have all said what a brilliant experience it has been. Getting away
from our desks has given us all perspective and, in this case, a physical
challenge, too. We ache and have got dirty for a day and it has been fantastic.
Any other companies able to engage in volunteering just do it; the local
community gets a positive result and so does everyone taking part.”
Volunteers’ Week is June 1-7. It is the ideal time for commercial concerns to
forge links with local charities and organisations to gain mutual benefits.
npower’s volunteering tasks are run in conjunction with CSV (Community
Service Volunteers).
For further information please contact Yvonne Rush on 0121 436 5935 or
email yvonne.rush@blueyonder.co.uk
Image: The npower volunteering team

3. Image: Pippa Welch, Liz Walsh and Rachel Swan with front Jenny
Knowles
Image: Dave Lewis brushes up his painting skills

4. Image: Kathy Bryers and Jenny Knowles with the ‘to do’ list
About npower
npower is one of Britain's largest electricity and gas suppliers and supplies
gas, electricity and related services to 6.6 million customers across the UK.
npower has been awarded platinum status in Business in the Community’s
CR Index and is one of twenty-nine companies to have achieved the
CommunityMark since its launch. All CommunityMark achievers have been
recognised for demonstrating excellence in their holistic and strategic
approach to community investment.