Charities

We help support partners to build resilience in their communities through supporting regional hardworking charities, volunteer-led groups and centres.  As part of the partnerships, our colleagues spend time volunteering, sharing vital skills and donating their expertise along with fundraising, as a way of showing support for our valued customers and communities.

To make sure our chosen charities receive the most from our support, we have chosen to target our resources with two main partnerships.

1. A five-year company-wide partnership with a single large charity.
2. Five selected regional charities to focus on local projects improving outcomes for young people. Each charity applied for funding and received a £10,000 grant to support their project.

 

These are our chosen charity partners:

WaterAid

Charity Number 288701 - Companywide charity
WaterAid is an international non-profit organisation, established in 1981 by members of the UK water industry.

We’re passionate about helping them to achieve their goals to provide clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene to everyone, everywhere, reflecting the true value of water in our daily lives.

Building on our long-standing relationship, we started a five-year partnership with WaterAid back in 2018. The partnership will deliver projects that encourage people and communities to save water in the South of England while funding water-giving projects in some of the world's poorest communities.

 

Community Supporters

Charity Number 1195006 - A East Sussex charity
The Young Pollinators project was co–created by a group of young people interested in playing an active role in environmental protection in the Rother district and beyond.

The project’s aim is to give young people a safe space to learn about the environment and to help them develop the skills to make environmental improvements, undertake training/qualifications, or grow skills that can be used later in their adult lives, such as resilience, self-confidence and communication skills.

Young people from the Rother and Hastings area take part in the project. It’s an area where qualification attainment is lower than the average for the rest of the Southeast, and aspirations for young people attending are often low.  

"This partnership will enable us to develop a programme and pathways for our young people to engage with nature and climate topics in a meaningful, enjoyable, and flexible way. It will help give young people the opportunity to share their thoughts, fears and ideas for a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future whilst also giving them the skills to succeed. We'd like to thank Southern Water for offering their support and expertise to help the Young Pollinators meet their goals."

 

No Limits

Charity Number 1088835 - A Hampshire charity
No Limits is a charity offering free and confidential information, advice, counselling, advocacy and support to children and young people under the age of 26 in Southampton and Hampshire. Young people can come to No Limits for free support on a wide range of issues including housing, homelessness, debt, employment, relationships, sexual health, mental health and substance misuse.

No Limits provides support to approximately 7,000 children and young people (under 26) in Southampton and Hampshire each year. The charity offers a universal, open access drop-in service at their Advice Centre and through weekly Health and Wellbeing drop-ins in schools/colleges. Their non-judgemental approach enables them to meet the needs of the most deprived, vulnerable, and isolated young people who often don’t access mainstream services.

The grant will be used to support the Work Club, which provides support to finding training, volunteering, or a paid role for young people. Young people also receive holistic support via the Advice Centre, and this continues for 12 months after the young people enter employment.

“We are so grateful to have been awarded this generous grant from Southern Water. Finding employment is a fundamental steppingstone for many of the vulnerable young people we support and, with this grant, we will be able to provide emotional and practical support to help young people achieve that step, building their confidence and giving them the skills they need to succeed in the workplace.”

 

Waterside Community Trust

Charity Number 1174631 - An Isle of Wight charity
The Trust was initially formed following closure plans by the Isle of Wight Council a decade ago. The Trust was able to save the pool and continue serving the Island Community, especially the town of Ryde and the Northeast part of the Island. 

Waterside Community Trust provides recreational and leisure facilities for the residents of Ryde and its surrounding area. The charity aims to be of benefit to all members of society whatever their age, infirmity, disablement, social or economic circumstances as well as the public at large in the interest of social welfare and the improvement of life for the local population.

"Southern Water have been a great support to our projects. Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to run them, such as our Sea Safe program which enables us to teach 1,000 local children drowning prevention skills and knowledge to reduce drownings – especially poignant after the four boys who tragically drowned in a lake this December.

The funding will enable us to continue these programs, along with supporting our Beach Lifeguards who operate in Ryde and Sandown on the Isle of Wight. We cannot thank Southern Water enough for their support."

 

Dover Smart Project

Charity Number 1157776 - A Kent charity
The Dover smart project was founded in 2013 to provide opportunities for disadvantaged children, mainly Young Carers, living in Dover to take part in a wide range of creative activities and experiences to boost their confidence, enhance their wellbeing, raise their aspirations and widen their outlook on the world.

The Dover Smart Project works across the Dover district, which has pockets of high levels of deprivation. The charity has been trialling Smart Angels (Wellbeing Co-ordinators) to support young people as well as having an additional staff member to attend the regular Young Carers club, whose sole purpose is to focus on the wellbeing of the children.

“The Dover Smart Project is very excited about this new partnership with Southern Water. As a small charity the recognition of a large organisation is key to the success of raising awareness and support for the work we do with young people in our community."

 

 

AudioActive

Charity Number 1168749 - A West Sussex Charity
AudioActive was set up in 1999 by a small team of music heads and youth workers to give local young people the chance to access and create music. The organisation grew and grew, resulting in a unique community of artists and young people across Sussex.

AudioActive, uses the power of music as an authentic engagement tool and a catalyst for change in young lives. Through mentoring and regular engagement, they help young people aged 11-25 to address the difficult personal and social issues affecting their lives, while helping them develop as musicians and artists. Their vision is for better futures through and for music, enabling young people and emerging artists of all backgrounds to fulfil their potential.   

“We're thrilled to be awarded this support from Southern Water, which comes at a particularly difficult time for youth growing up in today's society. Some of the young people we work with experience any number of challenges in their lives from mental ill health through to violence, vulnerability, and exploitation. This grant from Southern Water will help us to support young people living in the most challenging circumstances to reach their potential." 

 

We will continue to support other regional charities and community groups with our community volunteering programme.