Severn Trent Water makes generous £10k donation to children's centre
A water company has generously donated £10,000 to a Black Country day centre that cares for disabled children.
Severn Trent Water, which maintains water networks in the West Midlands, awarded the cash to KIDS Orchards Centre, based in Lye, Dudley.
The money has enabled KIDS, a national charity, to make improvements to its garden at the Lye-Bypass-based site, meaning children can enjoy a fun, safe and accessible space to learn in.
Claire Reid, regional manager of KIDS, said: "The garden at The KIDS Orchard Centre is the only outside place many of our families have been able to access due to the current pandemic.
"With the support of the Severn Trent Community fund, we have been able to make the garden a safe, accessible space.
"Enabling the opportunity of outside play for all of our young people, boosting their happiness, social interaction, self-esteem and communication skills, meaning they have a happier childhood and better quality of life.
"We really cannot thank you enough for your support."
This year, Severn Trent made a pledge to award £10 million over the next five years to support projects by charities and community groups, like the one at KIDS Orchard Centre.
The funding donated to facility in September was part of the firm's pledge. The project has now been completed which has resulted in the site having a fully inclusive garden to provide a range of sensory activities for vulnerable children.
Jade Gough, community fund officer at Severn Trent said: "It’s absolutely incredible to see such an amazing transformation in so little time, that will make huge benefits to those who use the centre.
"Now, more than ever, it’s important that our communities feel supported, and organisations like KIDS aims to do just that by providing a vital meeting place for children with disabilities and their families during the pandemic.
"We created our fund to help amazing projects like this, that will bring positive changes to our communities. We’re really happy to see that our fund has helped these incredible children, and will help transform and improve the lives of those who use the centre."
For more information about the fund, visit visit stwater.co.uk/communityfund.
