Annual Report 2016 | Page 33

Annual Report 2016 Caldmore Community Garden transformed Volunteers from South Staffs Water have helped transform a derelict house and garden into a thriving community centre in the heart of Caldmore, Walsall. volunteers were able to help with laying a new disabled-friendly path, painting the inside of the property and supplying some spare furniture, as well as donating items for use in the kitchen. Caldmore Village Festival Group was working with a number of organisations to make over the land and a former caretaker’s house when South Staffs Water was contacted for help with getting a new water supply to the house. In addition to this, our Chris Watson, who runs South Staffs Water’s volunteering scheme, said: “This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when people pull together for the benefit of the whole community. It’s a lovely little oasis right in the middle of Walsall.” SSI Services encourages its people to actively participate in their local communities by giving them work time to volunteer in projects of their choice. The division is keen to expand the activities currently carried out, with the support and guidance of their clients to promote and encourage opportunities in this area. Customers Innovation, customer satisfaction, providing a quality service and building and developing relationships with our customers, whether household or business customers, are all key to the future success of the Group. Echo raised money for several charities during the year, including the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan, Wear It Pink Day in support of Breast Cancer Awareness and donating over £700 worth of toys to the annual Family Christmas Appeal which is a joint initiative between The Salvation Army and St Vincent DePaul. Echo also supports two Northern Irelandbased animal charities; Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary and MidAntrim Animal Sanctuary. South Staffs Water has established a new Customer Panel – an independent and impartial board of customers, stakeholders and experts whose remit it is to provide a rigorous, customer-focused assessment and challenge of the business and its plans. Several of our businesses have also implemented new quality management processes and customer satisfaction surveys to enable them to either understand areas for improvement or, in some cases, suggest improvements or changes, strengthening our relationship with them. “SSI Services encourages its people to actively participate in their local communities and is keen to expand the activities carried out.” 31