Each of the local good causes were deliberately chosen because of their proximity to the construction project and have been nominated to receive the donations by the site team.
The donations are part of an initiative which promotes and rewards excellence in health and safety amongst staff and contractors working at the onshore substation construction site, near Bicker, Boston.
Over the last eight months, both Siemens and Triton Knoll have made regular contributions to the charity pot, based on achieving important safety performance targets. Thanks to the dedication of the project’s safety-focused teams, a total fund of £12,000 can be donated to the locally significant community projects.
The charities which each received a £2,000 award at an event held at Boston Guildhall this week are:
- Age UK Lincoln and South Lincolnshire
- Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance
- Boston Women’s Aid
- Butterfly Hospice Trust Boston
- Centrepoint Outreach Ltd Boston
- Macmillan Cancer & Support Centre.
Colette Flynn, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Siemens Transmission and Distribution, said: “Site safety is the main priority for Siemens on all its sites. We encourage employees to take personal action and report anything they think could cause a problem, or to report issues so that action can be taken. I’m delighted that we have achieved such a high level of safety on site which has allowed us to help support these excellent charities.”
Matthew Archer, Onshore Substation Site Manager for Triton Knoll, said: “We encourage our teams to live and breathe health and safety in order to achieve the very high standards we expect from both our staff and contractors alike. At its height, there are over 150 people working on the substation site alone, and our aspiration is to make sure every single person starts safe, acts safe and ultimately goes home safe at the end of the day.
“I’m delighted that our actions to stay safe on site not only protect the welfare of our team but will also make some difference to the charities that serve the communities in which we are also a part.”
Michele Jolly – CEO Age UK Lincoln & South Lincolnshire said: “We would like to thank Siemens and Triton Knoll for their generous donation.
“Age UK Lincoln and South Lincolnshire exists to support older people in Lincoln and South Lincolnshire through offering a variety of support services. We work to improve the lives of older people and enable them to flourish in later life.
“Our person-centred approach helps people to remain supported and independent in their own homes. We work extensively to address loneliness and isolation throughout Lincoln and South Lincolnshire through our Volunteering department and our Befriending Service.
With more than 17 departments we are able offer a variety of support including information and advice, support services and personal care to name but a few.
“This donation will help us to visit more lonely and isolated older people to offer support from our befriending service. The donation will also help us to recruit and train more befrienders who will then go out and visit people in need of this service. No one should be lonely.”
Tanya Taylor, Corporate Development Fundraiser, Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance, said: “The Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance is a dedicated Helicopter Emergency Medical Service for the communities of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire providing the equivalent of an A&E department at the side of a road, in the middle of a field or at the scene.
“We want to provide the best care to those who need our service in what is often their greatest hour of need. Each of our mission’s costs in the region of £2,500. Your generous donation has helped save a life today, so we would like to say a huge and sincere thank you to you all!”
Will Herbert, Chair of Trustees, Boston Women’s Aid said: “Boston Women's Aid is very grateful to both Siemens and Triton Knoll for this generous donation
“The charity has been delivering domestic abuse services in both Boston and South Lincolnshire for over 30 years and is an active member of the Lincolnshire's Domestic Abuse Delivery Group. We are deeply embedded within the rural community in which we operate and support for our work is high from both communities and local groups
“Boston Women's Aid is currently delivering a variety of workshops and projects in the community including work within primary and secondary schools and with local employers. However, our core service is that of our two local safe houses in which we can accommodate up to eight women with or without young families. We are responsible for the internal up keep and furnishing of these premises which can be costly especially when having to replace white goods, furniture, carpets etc. This generous donation will be set aside to meet future such costs as and when they occur”
Linda Sanderson – Butterfly Hospice Trust Manager, said: “We at the hospice would like to thank Siemens and Triton Knoll for the fabulous donation.
“The Butterfly Hospice Trust is a charity organisation which raises funds so people who have been diagnosed with life limiting illnesses can be cared for by specialist palliative care nurses on a 24-hour basis in the Inpatient Unit at the Butterfly Hospice in Boston.
“There are six individual rooms at the hospice and people come to us to provide high quality, compassionate end of life and respite care. We are proud of our hospice and especially proud of the fact that care given is completely free of charge.
“The donation will help us to pay for the services of our cooks and to fund the provision of food for the patients. We rely on the generosity of the local community and business organisations to keep the our much-needed service going.”
Elizabeth Hopkins, Chief Executive, Centrepoint Outreach, said: "All of us at Centrepoint Outreach are so grateful to Siemens and Triton Knoll for this fantastic donation which will be used to improve the lives of homeless and vulnerable people in Boston. The money will help to ensure that we can keep the doors of our Drop In Centre open to those in need, and will enable us to provide practical help and support including a free hot drink and snack, a hot shower and clean clothing for people who are homeless, emergency food parcels and basic furniture and household goods. As a small local charity every penny really counts, and this generous donation will make a real difference to lives of those using our services."
Jamie Davenport, Senior Fundraising Manager, Lincolnshire, Macmillan, said: “£2,000 means the world to Macmillan, it’s enough to fund a local nurse for two weeks. Macmillan’s aim is to be ‘right there with you’ when you’re faced with cancer, and donations like this mean we can support patients, family and friends that are dealing with the effects of cancer. Thank you to everyone for choosing Macmillan in Lincolnshire.”
