31 May 2011 13:08
E.ON volunteers transform garden at Nottinghamshire special needs school

  A group of willing volunteers from E.ON's Phoenix Park offices recently spent a day transforming the garden area at Sutherland House School for special needs children in Nottingham.

The team cleared an overgrown area of the school garden, which had previously been unusable for the two years since the school moved to the site.  The school hopes to use the area for a special trampoline and swing for the children to enjoy. 

The volunteers also dug out some overgrown allotment areas for the school to use to teach the children how to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

Amanda Campbell, Clerical Assistant at E.ON and one of the volunteers, said: "The day was really fantastic. The team had a lovely time at the school and we were looked after very well.  We really enjoyed meeting some of the pupils at the school and hearing their feedback after the challenge which made it all so very worthwhile."

Annette Symes, from Sutherland House School, said: "The E.ON challenge was brilliant. I can't believe how much work they did and not one of them slacked at all, even the students were amazed at the results and we now have a garden a third bigger. Words cannot say how grateful I am that E.ON came and did all this work for us, thank you."

E.ON finds volunteering opportunities for employees across the UK, working with schools, older people and other vulnerable groups as part of its wider community relations programme. In 2010, E.ON employees spent almost 7,000 hours volunteering in their local communities.

Across Europe, E.ON's employees are supporting the European Commission and UN 2011 European Year of Volunteering through the company's volunteering programmes.

 

Ends

 

Notes to editors:

• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, and retailing power and gas - and is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. We employ around 12,000 people in the UK and over 85,000 worldwide.

 

 

For more information contact:

Victoria Blake at E.ON on 02476 181304