Outstanding safety performance at Essar’s Stanlow Refinery in the first few months of the year has resulted in £9,000 being donated to local charities. Essar’s Let’s Give programme, which links safety milestones and charitable giving, recognised the safety achievements by presenting £3,000 each to three charities: The NeuroMuscular Centre, The Wirral Community Narrowboat Trust, and Tiny Steps - all nominated for support by employees at Stanlow.
Tony Penney, a Shift Duty Officer in the Fire and Security Team, nominated The NeuroMuscular Centre (NMC) for a donation, as his cousin has benefitted from the organisation in the past.
Lyndsey Cannon-Potts, Head of Fundraising at NMC said: “Essar’s generous donation of £3,000 will help to operate our recently installed neuromuscular gym, the first of its kind in Europe. The benefits of being able to exercise in an accessible environment with adapted equipment include improved cardio-vascular function, enhanced mobility and the opportunity to do something for themselves, at the same time as socialising with others.”
The Wirral Community Narrowboat Trust (WCNT) was nominated by Allen Higgins, who has supported them in the past with fundraising. Tim Mobbs, Marketing Manager for the WCNT, commented: “We are delighted with the donation from Essar, as we rely on volunteers and donations to keep our boats and activities running.”
The WCNT provides days out and activities for disabled and disadvantaged people and community groups. The charity offers sailings from April to October, and make around 300 sailings per year carrying approximately 3,000 passengers. The two boats are crewed by volunteers, all trained to deliver an enjoyable and safe narrowboat experience. Each boat has been built specifically to be accessible for disabled users, with wheelchair access and flexible seating.
Siobhan Blenkinsop, an Power and Control Engineer at Stanlow nominated Tiny Steps, a charity founded by close friends. The charity is fundraising for a sensory play area and social cafe for children and young people with additional needs and their families in the Northwich and Winsford area.
Tiny Steps was founded by Laura and Martin Clifton, whose seven year old daughter Connie was diagnosed with West Syndrome at only eight months old and who now lives with significant developmental delays. Laura is passionate about providing a support service for families experiencing similar issues in the area. She said: “As a fairly young charity we are still growing and our main aim is to raise enough money to build our centre. This donation is a great step in taking our fundraising forward, and we are looking forward to the day when we can thank every one of our supporters with an invitation to the new centre.”
