25 May 2007 00:00
Climbing the highest peaks with the help of E.ON UK

More students in Stourbridge will be able to learn navigation and survival techniques thanks to a donation from energy company E.ON UK.

Robert Oliver, who works in the metering division of E.ON’s Energy Services business based at Kingswinford, has volunteered for the past two-and-a-half years helping young people work towards achieving the Duke of Edinburgh gold award.

“We meet every Wednesday night at Kind Edward VI College and I help the students to not only learn about navigation and survival techniques, but also to experience these when I supervise them on weekend camping trips,” said Robert.

“I completed the expedition section of the gold award myself four years ago and I know what a significant achievement this is.

“The £250 donation from E.ON has meant I’ve been able to attend a week-long training course in Wales for mountain leaders, which is the first step to qualifying me to lead gold groups into wild country such as in Snowdonia and the Lake District.

“That means more students in the Stourbridge area can experience mountain climbing as I will be able to supervise and train them in how to safely conduct an expedition or exploration in wilderness country.

“Young people need to be given every opportunity to have a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience and it’s brilliant that E.ON supports me in doing this.”

E.ON UK donates grants of up to £250 to charities and not for profit organisations in recognition of any employee who has volunteered more than 80 hours of personal time.

Ends

Notes to editors:
• In 2006, E.ON UK donated a total of £34,000 to more than 140 organisations to recognise the efforts of staff who volunteered over 23,000 hours of their own time.
• E.ON is the UK’s largest integrated power and gas company – generating and distributing electricity, and retailing power and gas – and is part of the E.ON group, the world’s largest investor-owned power and gas company. We employ around 15,000 people in the UK.

For further information contact:
Deanna Mooney on 024 7618 3678