More than 350 Scottish Gas employees took part in a volunteering challenge supporting local charities and community groups across North Edinburgh yesterday.
Throughout the day, Scottish Gas volunteers worked with a number of local groups:
– MyAdventure: a social enterprise which runs outdoor experiences
– North Edinburgh Arts Centre: a local community space for art exhibitions, live performances and classes with gardens, a music studio and cafe.
– Early Years Centre, Craigroyston High: a centre which offers childcare and parental guidance to young parents
– Granton Community Gardeners: an initiative developed to tackle local food poverty
– Waterfront Nursery: a local childcare centre
– Millennium Centre: a local community hub offering classes and events
– PYCP (Pilton Youth and Children Project): a local youth club
– PEP (Pilton Equalities Project): provides essential services for older and other vulnerable adults in North Edinburgh.
Some of the key achievements were improving play areas at local nurseries, developing MY Adventure’s mountain bike track in Gypsy Brae, working in the community garden at the North Edinburgh Arts Centre and helping Granton Community Gardeners to prepare their plots for the summer.
The event launched Scottish Gas’ ‘Summer of Volunteering’ challenge which aims to deliver 7,000 hours of community support in 100 days, and marks Volunteers’ Week, which starts on 1 June and runs until 12 June.
Lesley Avinou, Head of Customer Service, at Scottish Gas in Edinburgh said: “It was a brilliant day. We worked with more than ten amazing organisations that make a difference to the lives of people across North Edinburgh.
“Our Craigroyston Community Partnership, now in its third year, helps to support the community by volunteering. We want to help not just young people but their families too.”
Scottish Gas aims to get more of its workforce involved in local volunteering and sees volunteering as a great way to provide help and support to the local community.
Pictures: Chris Watt