The north of England’s gas distributer, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), has lent a helping hand to a family charity in Howdon, North Tyne.

NGN and O’Brien Group has donated £1,000 to the Baby Equipment Loan Service and Toy Library (BELS & TL) on Denbigh Avenue, which loans out buggies, cots, highchairs and baby monitors to families in the local community.

NGN is currently in the process of safely dismantling its gas holder tanks at Howdon. The work, which is being carried out with specialist partners O’Brien Group, began on 21 March.

The £680,000 project is registered with the Considerate Constructor Scheme and as part of its community pledges, NGN’s Customer Care team visits local charities and groups to explore ways of making a difference to the lives of people living where engineers are working.

During a visit to Howdon Community Centre, NGN Customer Care Officers learned BELS & TL is a charity which has responded to local needs since 1985.

BELS & TL is run from the centre and provides essential items of baby and safety equipment to parents and carers in North Tyneside. Hire is available to anyone on benefits or a low income at minimal cost. The Toy Library is open to all children who live in North Tyneside and are under 15 years of age, there is an extensive range of stimulating and educational toys and play equipment.

A cheque was presented to the charity’s Katherine O’Donnell and Deb Walters by NGN Customer Care Officers Ian Burns and Jade Dunn, and Chris Barkas, Business Development Manager for O’Brien Group this month.

Mark Johnson, NGN Project Manager for the Howdon gas holder scheme said: “At NGN we fully appreciate the impact our works can have on the local community and would like to thank residents and businesses for their continued support.  We appreciate the patience and understanding shown to us and would like to give something back to the community through this donation.”

For further information about the project please contact NGN’s Customer Care team on 0800 040 7766, option 7 or email customercare@northerngas.co.uk

Anyone that smells gas or suspects Carbon Monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.