Our ESG strategy and Community Relations and Investment Policy actively promotes community involvement in our day-to-day business activities. The Pennon Sustainability Committee annually reviews the businesses’ community involvement, investment and relations performance on a formal basis. We monitor and report our community investment information in our Annual Report.
Community relations
We are integral to the communities across our region and we are committed to listening and engaging regularly to understand their needs, working together to ensure water for all and protecting our environment today and for future generations.
Our charitable donations and community funds support hundreds of amazing causes making a real difference to the lives of people and the places they love. Our education programme aims to inspire future champions across the region to learn about the value of water in fun and interactive ways. Our community outreach programme works directly in the communities we serve offering support to those who need a little extra help when it matters most and talking directly to customers about environmental challenges and how we can work together to secure the future we all want to see.
Over the past decade we have been working with local community partners to protect and restore our environment, including working with our local farming community to help create more sustainable farming practices and restoring the South West’s precious peatlands.
Our partnerships with charities also seek to provide health and recreational benefits to local communities using our lakes and reservoirs – helping us support the health and wellbeing in our region.
We are committed to delivering positive community relations and benefit, wherever practically possible and economically reasonable. Our businesses operate in the heart of local communities, and we work closely with our stakeholders on active local projects and initiatives, through holding timely community liaison meetings and community events as appropriate.
South West Water has implemented a comprehensive community engagement program across its region, with a focus on coastal communities. The main initiatives include:
- A roadshow program providing local information, addressing customer concerns, and sharing upcoming plans in different communities.
- Awareness campaigns like 'Water is Precious', 'Love Your Loo', and 'Think Sink!' through print, digital, and social media to promote behavioural change.
- An education program delivering lessons on water cycle, sewer misuse, and water efficiency to over 4,000 primary school children this year.
- The 'Awesome Water' program with 28 event days across the region, engaging over 55,000 people and sharing messages on sewage misuse, water efficiency, drought, and hosepipe bans.
- The South West Water Neighbourhood Fund, running for three years, has provided over £100,000 to more than 50 charities and groups, and 22,000 individuals.
- Bristol Water's 'Together for good' community lottery program, supporting local community projects with £500 grants.
- Bi-annual Conservation and Recreation Forum and partnerships like Southwest Lakes Trust to promote access to recreational sites.
The initiatives cover a wide range of engagement activities, from local roadshows and school education to public events, community funding, and partnerships, aimed at raising awareness, promoting water conservation, and addressing local concerns.
Capturing community feedback
We capture community feedback, whether this is in the form of compliments, opportunities, complaints or grievances, via our reception, call centres, social media channels, customer service teams and the ‘contact us’ form on our company websites. The information collected is recorded and handled by our community relations and environment and sustainability teams and the relevant local site representative, to ensure the issues or opportunities are captured and any necessary action taken.