NI Water is celebrating 10 years of Cares Challenge programme

Northern Ireland Water is celebrating a decade of one of the largest corporate volunteering schemes in the province.
By Claire Cartmill
Published 2nd Mar 2022, 08:00 BST
Updated 2nd Mar 2022, 08:18 BST
NI Water celebrates a decade of Cares Challenge, one of the largest corporate volunteering schemes in the Province. In the latest challenge the team of 15 volunteers, including chief executive, Sara Venning, worked to make the garden at the NI Children’s Hospice a perfect place of solace for patients and their familiesNI Water celebrates a decade of Cares Challenge, one of the largest corporate volunteering schemes in the Province. In the latest challenge the team of 15 volunteers, including chief executive, Sara Venning, worked to make the garden at the NI Children’s Hospice a perfect place of solace for patients and their families
NI Water celebrates a decade of Cares Challenge, one of the largest corporate volunteering schemes in the Province. In the latest challenge the team of 15 volunteers, including chief executive, Sara Venning, worked to make the garden at the NI Children’s Hospice a perfect place of solace for patients and their families

Over 1,500 staff have volunteered in 100 challenges to date, equating to more than 10,000 hours of volunteering to help support communities across Northern Ireland.

As part of NI Water’s ‘Cares Challenge’ programme, activities are planned and set up in partnership with Business in the Community’s NI Cares Programme.

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The programme identifies organisations and charities within the local community who need a helping hand with physical tasks.

Celebrating 10 years of Cares Challenge are NI Water chief executive, Sara Venning and Kieran Harkin, managing director of Business in the CommunityCelebrating 10 years of Cares Challenge are NI Water chief executive, Sara Venning and Kieran Harkin, managing director of Business in the Community
Celebrating 10 years of Cares Challenge are NI Water chief executive, Sara Venning and Kieran Harkin, managing director of Business in the Community

This has allowed NI Water staff to help a wide range of charities over the past 10 years including Southern Area Hospice, The National Trust, Welcome Organisation, Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary, Foyle Hospice and much, much more.

In the latest Cares Challenge the NI Water team got to work in the grounds of the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.

The team of 15 volunteer gardeners including chief executive, Sara Venning, worked together to plant new flowers, clear weeds, trim plants, and paint planters and fences.

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All working together to make the garden at Children’s Hospice a perfect place of solace for patients and their families to enjoy and relax in anytime of day.

Pictured at the NI Children’s Hospice Cares Challenge are NI Water chief executive, Sara Venning, Heather Weir, CEO Northern Ireland Hospice, Kieran Harkin, managing director of Business in the Community and Mary McCall, director of Commercial Brand Development, Northern Ireland HospicePictured at the NI Children’s Hospice Cares Challenge are NI Water chief executive, Sara Venning, Heather Weir, CEO Northern Ireland Hospice, Kieran Harkin, managing director of Business in the Community and Mary McCall, director of Commercial Brand Development, Northern Ireland Hospice
Pictured at the NI Children’s Hospice Cares Challenge are NI Water chief executive, Sara Venning, Heather Weir, CEO Northern Ireland Hospice, Kieran Harkin, managing director of Business in the Community and Mary McCall, director of Commercial Brand Development, Northern Ireland Hospice

Highlighting the hard work and commitment of all the volunteers who have take part in the programme over the past decade, Sara Venning, chief executive of NI Water, explained: “For more than a decade our dedicated staff have worked alongside charities, schools and community groups to help provide that extra support.

“These teams of handy helpers have undertaken everything from gardening, painting and maintenance to environmental and fundraising days.

“It is often the extra support that these groups require to enhance their facilities, improve the lives of their members and operate their centres successfully.”

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Outlining the physical and mental benefits of taking part in the programme, she continued: “Volunteering has also proved to be a key part of our health and wellbeing toolkit.

“Our teams gain so much from the experience, not only by helping the community, but also having the chance to spend time with colleagues from around the business that they might not otherwise have a chance to meet.”

Also praising the corporate volunteering programme, Mary McCall, director of Commercial Brand Development at the Northern Ireland Hospice said it was a ‘win-win situation for all involved’.

She explained: “We were delighted that Northern Ireland Water chose to come here to Children’s Hospice and volunteer in our gardens for the day.

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“The corporate volunteering programme at the Children’s Hospice is a win-win situation for all involved.

“It allows our business partners to fulfil their corporate social responsibility objectives and our patients get the benefit of their expertise and hard work in the garden.”

Thanking Business in the Community for supporting NI Water in helping the local communities to thrive, Kieran Harding, managing director of Business in the Community added: “NI Water has shown tremendous commitment to the local community through its decade-long involvement with the Cares Challenge programme.

“Employer-supported volunteering enables employees to engage with local communities, charities and community groups, to develop an understanding of their needs, and to pro-actively support the work they do.

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“When employers offer opportunities for staff to volunteer it supports better wellbeing, develops skills, and improves employee engagement – creating a happier, healthier workforce.

“I’m delighted that, via the Cares programme, Business in the Community has been able to support NI Water to help local communities to thrive over the past decade.”

To find out more or to get involved go to https://www.niwater.com/cares-challenge/.

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Related topics:NI WaterNorthern Ireland