Christmas joy as Wolverhampton group win volunteer support and funding
Christmas has come early for St Edmund’s Catholic Academy after winning Severn Trent’s first NeighbourGOOD award.
Smestow Valley reserve is set to receive up to two days of support from up to 30 Severn Trent volunteers each day to help towards restoring the wetland area as well as up to £2,500 funding for material costs.
The community initiative was launched by the water company to support local causes that matter with practical volunteers, and a squad of local Severn Trent employees have been drafted in to support the project in 2025.
The wetland restoration project clearly won the hearts of the public, as they were crowned the Birmingham winners in an online vote - having earlier come through a judging panel of independent local figures, including councillors and journalists.
The nature reserve also has the added bonus of receiving £2,500 funding to help towards material costs of the project.
The Smestow Valley wetland restoration project aims to boost biodiversity and community well-being by clearing vital habitats for rare species and repairing a bridge, whilst also providing a great experience for Eco Club pupils.
St Edmund’s Catholic Academy said: "The pupils of St Edmund's Catholic Academy Eco Club are ecstatic to receive this news! We can't wait to restore our treasured wetland area. Thank you so much to Severn Trent and everyone who voted for us"
Elizabeth Heath, Social Impact Lead at Severn Trent, said: “We are thrilled to see Smestow Valley Nature Reserve be crowned Birmingham winners. Their project will benefit a number of people across the local community, so it’s no wonder that they received so many of the votes.
“Thousands of people took to our website to have their say and we’re looking forward to working with Smestow Valley and providing them with the funding and volunteer support they need to complete their project.”
The NeighbourGOOD Scheme is just one of the many community initiatives Severn Trent are doing to support local groups, with their Community Fund also giving £10 million to local organisations across the Severn Trent region in the last five years.
For more information, please visit: stwater.co.uk/neighbourgood-scheme.
