Volunteers from NI Water assisted St Mary’s Primary School in Derrymore by painting playground games and carrying out gardening work.

The effort formed part of the company’s Cares Challenge project, active for more than ten years and recognised as one of Northern Ireland’s largest corporate volunteering initiatives.

Over 1,850 NI Water employees have taken part in more than 130 challenges, contributing a total of over 13,000 hours to community support across Northern Ireland.

The programme operates in partnership with Business in the Community’s NI Cares initiative, which matches companies with local organisations and charities needing help with tasks like gardening and painting.

Rose Kelly, NI Water’s Director of People and Learning, stated that volunteers have completed gardening, painting, maintenance, environmental work and fundraising activities.

Kelly added that such support helps groups enhance facilities and improve operations for members.

She noted that volunteering supports employee health and wellbeing by fostering interactions among colleagues from different parts of the organisation.