Healthwatch Wolverhampton canal clear up with the Canal and River Trust
As a Community Interest Company, we are committed to giving back to the local community, either through donations, grants or through giving our time volunteering. On 8 and 9 July 2021, the staff and volunteer team at Healthwatch Wolverhampton joined up with the Canal and Rivers Trust to volunteer their time by spending two days tidying up a stretch of canal and its overgrown pathways around Coxwell Avenue and opposite the Science Park.
Ashley Lovell, aged 30, from Darlaston, who is the Digital Engagement Officer with Healthwatch Wolverhampton, said: "The towpath is close to our base, and we decided to reach out to the community after the lockdowns and to help tidy the area for local people and visitors.
"We are the independent voice of people who use health and social care services and as we are starting to get back to work within the community again, we wanted to support one of our partners, the Canal and River Trust.
"The Trust has provided all the equipment to help us clean the overgrown towpath and general tidy up the area. We plan to spend two days doing the work and hope that this will generally make is more pleasant for people visiting the area."
“I am proud of how our colleagues and volunteers at Healthwatch Wolverhampton worked together to serve the local community, said Elizabeth Learoyd, Managing Director of ECS (Engaging Communities Solutions), the organisation which holds the contract to deliver Healthwatch Wolverhampton. We were able to make meaningful progress against our corporate social responsibility commitments whilst also giving our staff and volunteers the opportunity to spend some time outdoors, tidying up the towpath so residents can continue to enjoy it to exercise, reflect and recharge. We also met local residents who were using the towpath and were able to let them know about Healthwatch and get them involved with our work. We look forward to working with the Canal and River Trust for new initiatives in the future.”
Healthwatch Wolverhampton is an independent organisation set up to champion the views of patients and social care users in Wolverhampton, with the goal of making services better and improving health and wellbeing. We want to hear about your views, needs and experiences to help Wolverhampton get the best possible health and care. To share your feedback on health and social care services in Wolverhampton, contact Healthwatch though their Feedback centre: https://www.healthwatchwolverhampton.co.uk/services/
The Canal and River Trust is guardian of 2,000 miles of canals and rivers as well as reservoirs across the country. It also cares for a range of heritage buildings and structures. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/