Working as part of Severn Trent Services, all our employees get two days per year to go out and give back to our local communities.
Recently, some of our Commercial Water Services team, who operate and maintain thousands of assets that provide water and wastewater services across the UK, teamed up with Bromford Housing to support a local in need of a garden refresh.
In this case it was to support a gentleman who sadly had recently suffered with illness and was no longer able to tend to his previously cherished garden. Rob Vodrey, an Investment Surveyor, from Bromford Housing, reached out to Dan Mcardle from Severn Trent Services following visiting the bungalow to see it was overgrown and at points inaccessible.
This is when the wheels were put into motion, and just a few weeks later (on a typical rainy morning in Birmingham) and accessing the work area via another customer’s garden, the significant makeover began. This involved significant cutting back of overgrowth, relaying and extending flagged paving, fencing repairs, and clearing of possessions that were no longer needed. And much more!
Rob has said, “I’m pleased to say I attended and was allowed to work alongside the happy band of hardworking and 100% weatherproof Seven Trent Services volunteers, coached along by the Head of Water Services, Dan Mcardle (who has skills greater than you might think with just a rubber mallet and a few flags).
The result was admirable by anyone’s standards, whereby a new outlook and environment emerged for our customer, now allowing him to enjoy a lower maintenance garden whilst sitting out on his new chairs and patio table, being floodlighted by the new solar lighting, and storing his equipment in the newly provided garden shed.”
Jo Harris-Thomson, who also works for Bromford as a Neighbourhood and Community Manager said, “What a pleasure it has been to collaborate with Severn Trent Services to achieve such an amazing transformation. This was no easy task, and the weather was definitely not on side. However, with fabulous motivation and determination, the team quite literally ploughed on to plough through.
It is evident that the team were so passionate about what they were doing and worked tirelessly to achieve amazing results, continually going that extra mile. We take for granted the day-to-day things that we are able to do until the ability to do that is taken away from us. The work that has been done here has enabled a customer to enjoy the outside environment once again and have that safe space for rest and relaxation.”
Dan and his team added, “It was great to work alongside Bromford to jointly implement our value of caring for our communities and customers, utilising the various skills within our teams to provide an outdoor space for the gentleman to recuperate. A great couple of days, despite the typical English weather!”
Thank you to our contractor partner M.C Properties for the generous donation of materials. A huge thank you to both our employees and those at Bromford that made this selfless service possible. Their commitment to making a difference in the community is not just commendable but also inspirational. Great work from all involved!
