More colleagues from Northumbrian Water stepped up to support their local communities in a landmark year for the company’s employee volunteering programme, Just an Hour.
In 2025, more than 2,100 employees volunteered for good causes across the company’s operating areas - including the North East, demonstrating the company’s longstanding commitment to making a positive difference across the regions it serves.
Colleagues completed 3,383 volunteering activities, supporting almost 1,000 charitable causes, from preparing food at local foodbanks to building outdoor classrooms at schools, and tidying up animal rescue centres to collecting, packing and distributing Christmas presents for local families in need, to hundreds of its people litter picking at local beaches.
Colleagues also joined forces with environmental partners to complete habitat restoration projects, as well as fundraising for charities close to their hearts, which was supported by the company’s Cheque it Out employee sponsorship scheme.
There were an extra 243 colleagues volunteering in 2025, and an extra 652 activities, compared to 2024.The company’s award-winning employee volunteering initiative, Just an Hour, supports people to take time out of their working day, to give back to causes aligned with personal passion and company values. The scheme recently gained national recognition, winning ‘Best Community Initiative’ at the 2025 Corporate Comms Awards.
Vicky Cairns, Partnerships Consultant at Northumbrian Water said:
“We’re immensely proud of the different ways in which we give back to our local communities, whether that’s through in-kind donations, charitable grants, sponsorship, or help from our national award-winning employee volunteering programme, Just an Hour.
“Supporting our local communities to help make a positive difference is in our DNA and something we feel really passionate about. It’s important we continue to connect with our communities, giving back where we can, and empowering our people to do good things. We want everyone to feel supported to make a difference to the causes closest to their hearts.”
Charities across Northumbrian Water’s operating areas have praised the initiative’s impact, noting the value of hands-on support, specialist skills, and the enthusiasm of volunteers who consistently “go above and beyond”.
Joanne Smith, Chief Executive at Fighting All Cancers Together (FACT) said:
“Over the last 17 years, volunteers from Northumbrian Water’s volunteer programme have helped FACT with a huge range of tasks.
“From fundraising, helping at our events, collecting items for and making up Christmas hampers and sorting donations for our charity shop, to helping us to knock down walls and strip out an old pub in preparation for refurbishment and transformation into our cancer support centre.
“As a small but very busy charity with a very small team, these extra pairs of hands are a huge help to us when working through our long and varied ‘to do’ list.”
Following the record-breaking year, the company is already aiming to encourage even more colleagues, particularly those who have never volunteered before, to take part in 2026.
Beyond the community benefits, the initiative also supports personal wellbeing, helping people feel good by doing good, building new skills, strengthening team relationships, and connecting more deeply with the communities the company serves.
Suzy Tanrikuli, Water Network Operations Manager at Northumbrian Water who described the company initiative as ‘inclusive and uplifting said:
“Helping others and playing an active role in our community has been incredibly rewarding for our team.
“Whether it’s using our skills to install water pipes, build a road or support students with additional needs as they prepare for interviews, our people are perfectly placed to use their skills to make a real and lasting difference.
“These experiences have not only been enjoyable but have also strengthened our connection to the communities we serve. I’m immensely proud of the legacy our team has created. It’s a testament to the power of volunteering and the impact we can have together.”
To find out more about Northumbrian Water’s volunteering initiative, or if you’re a charitable organisation looking for help from volunteers, go to https://www.nwg.co.uk/justanhour