Gemma Richards, who is Senior Volunteer Development Officer, at the

Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service

(Cyngor Gwasanaeth Gwirfoddol Castell Nedd Port Talbot)

has sent us this account of the Aggreko staff day earlier this month. This partnership between the Swansea Canal Society, Aggreko and Neath Port Talbot is an example of the wayforward  for all successful enterprises.

“Staff from Aggreko gave their time to help Swansea Cancel Society during July. This was part of the #makingadifference project that Aggreko organise where staff are encouraged to take part in volunteering days throughout the community. They call them Orange Days of Difference.

Aggreko are a supplier of temporary power generation and temperature control equipment. This is a global company covering 204 locations, with 16 depots around the UK. As part of their Orange Days of Difference, Four staff members from their Port Talbot office volunteered their time for the day. They helped Swansea Canal Society on the canal section between the Buried Clydach Lock site and Coed Gwilym Park.

Together with Gordon, the Chairman of Swansea Canal Society, they managed to clear lots of Canadian Pond Weed from the channel. This has enabled the section between the north end of the Buried Lock site and Coed Gwilym Park to now be open to canoe traffic once more. It was a successful day with a lot of hard graft!

Formed in 1981, The Swansea Canal Society works closely in partnership with The Canal and River Trust who own the two hundred and twenty year old structure canal. Run by volunteers, Swansea Canal Society aim to:

• Promote the heritage and history of the canal
• Protect its wildlife
• Restore the canal to navigable standards
• Improve the canal environment for the health and benefit of all visitors.

They hope to make the Swansea Canal something the whole community can be proud of. For more information about Swansea Canal Society, including details about their canoe hire, take a look at their website: www.swanseacanalsociety.com

To find out more about employee volunteering days, contact Neath Port Talbot CVS on 01639 631246 or email info@nptcvs.org.uk “