Christmas has come early for nine community projects after winning Severn Trent’s first NeighbourGOOD award – with each set to receive up to two days of support from up to 30 Severn Trent volunteers each day to 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.

Each project clearly won the hearts of the public, as they were crowned their regional winners in an online vote - having earlier come through a judging panel of independent local figures, including councillors and journalists.

They also have the added bonus of receiving £2500 funding to help towards material costs of the projects.

The projects that won in the public vote are:

·         Birmingham – St Edmund’s Catholic Academy, Smestow Valley wetlands restoration

·         Derbyshire – Erewash Museum, Path to the Past project

·         Gloucestershire – Greatfield PTA, Edible Garden project

·         Leicestershire – 1^st Nanpantan Scouts, Scout hut and community hall decoration

·         Nottinghamshire – Diversify Education, Strengthening communities through support and connection

·         Shropshire – Flourish and Nourish, Community Kitchen Garden and Memorial Orchard

·         Staffordshire – Better Together Community Group, Hug in a Mug community café

·         Coventry & Warwickshire – Stivichall Primary School, Community allotment project

·         Worcestershire – Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College, Bungalow Project

Elizabeth Heath, Social Impact Lead at Severn Trent, said: “We are thrilled to see each of the projects be crowned regional winners. Their projects will benefit a number of people across their local communities, 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 all of the groups and providing them with the funding and volunteer support they need to complete their projects.”

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: https://www.stwater.co.uk/neighbourgood-scheme/.