06 October 2006 00:00 Central Networks helps Derbyshire community groups make a safer environment

Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, has awarded grants of £2,500 to three Derbyshire parishes.

The cash has been donated to the Stanton by Dale Social Committee and Aston on Trent War Memorial Hall Management Committee to build much-needed safety fences around their local children’s play area. In addition, Draycott Parish Council has been given funds to improve access for disabled visitors and pushchair users at their local nature reserve.

The grant comes from the company’s £70,000 Safer Environment Fund which was launched earlier this year.

Phil Wilson, Customer Operations Manager at Central Networks, said: “The aim of this fund is to put Central Networks at the heart of the communities in which we operate and that’s precisely what these grants do.

“We think that all of these projects will make a real difference to the community and we’re delighted to be able to help.”

Fiona Starbuck, Chairperson of Stanton by Dale Social Committee, said: “There’s a real commitment among the villagers to bring the young and the old together and to make the area a safe and enjoyable meeting point. The kind donation from Central Networks will ensure this is possible.”
Val Lewis, Clerk to Draycott Parish Council said: “Thanks to the money from Central Networks we’ll be able to make this area more accessible and provide improvements to the interpretation boards on the viewing platform for everyone to enjoy.”

Andrew Shakich, Chairman for the War Memorial Hall Management Committee, said: “Over nine thousand people use our hall each year, including lots of children, and we feel that it’s really important that they have a place to play and exercise in complete safety. The money from Central Networks will ensure that we can make the hall a great place for everyone to visit.”

The fund is still open to all local community groups and not for profit organisations with their own bank account located in the Central Networks distribution region, which covers central England. For more information and to download an application form visit www.central-networks.co.uk/sef.

Ends

Notes to editors:
• Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.9 million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:
Jamee Majid 024 7618 3679
Ellie King 024 7618 3678
A selection of Central Networks images are available free of charge to the media by registering at www.newscast.co.uk and looking under the Distribution section