This Volunteers’ Week, Northern Gas Networks are recognising the fantastic efforts of hundreds of colleagues who have spent thousands of hours giving something back to their local communities in the North of England.

Colleagues from all areas of the business – which delivers gas to 2.9 million homes and businesses across the North of England through its network of pipes – volunteered a total of 3,416 hours in 2024 and are continuing this in 2025.

They have helped out at a huge variety of organisations including charities, sports clubs, hospices, soup kitchens and schools.

A key focus has been improving the local environment with many colleagues spending days taking part in beach clean ups and helping local wildlife trusts.

This aligns with Northern Gas Networks’ vision for a fairer, greener future for the North of England and its ongoing commitment to sustainability.

Another key area has been supporting vulnerable people by helping to provide meals and food packages for elderly people and distributing vital medical equipment too.

Charlotte Hughes, Software License Manager, is one of several colleagues to have volunteered with STEMAZING, a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to inspiration and inclusion in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) and promoting female role models to young people.

She has joined several educational sessions at Crook Primary School in County Durham focusing on various aspects of STEM – the latest discussing aerodynamics.

She said: “I’ve really enjoyed being out of my comfort zone, and would encourage anyone to volunteer if they can.

“STEMAZING is all about being a visible role model and also inspiring children – especially girls – that they can do anything a boy can.”

Sue Dodds, Community and Communications Manager at STEMAZING, said: “We are deeply grateful to Northern Gas Networks for supporting colleagues like Charlotte to give their time to us, their contribution is absolutely invaluable.

“Thanks to their support, we’ve been able to reach pupils from underrepresented backgrounds — with 37% of children engaged qualifying for free school meals — exposing them to inspiring, visible women in STEM and also playing a small yet significant part in bridging the STEM skills gap.

“This would not have been possible without Northern Gas Networks’ commitment to empowering their staff to give back in such a meaningful way.”

Northern Gas Networks also has a long-running partnership with the social enterprise Solutions for the Planet, supports the organisation’s Big Ideas Programme – and through this, colleagues have been volunteering as mentors with local schools.

Students come up with ideas to solve a sustainability issue that matters to them, then work with their mentors to turn their idea into a business plan. These plans are submitted and come up against plans from students in other schools. A panel of judges review the entries and shortlist Regional Finalists, with the winning teams progressing to the National Finals at the Palace of Westminster.

Emilie Knight, VCMA Communications Manager, has been mentoring with Leeds East Academy and said: “Joining the students while they finalised their presentations was uplifting. Talking to them, sharing tips and ideas for handling tough questions and hopefully boosting their confidence was a privilege, and seeing them on stage delivering the pitches was a pleasure.

“The best bit of all was when I asked one of the boys what they enjoyed most and he said ‘it’s brought us all together…it’s brought us closer to our teacher.’

“I got a real buzz from it all. I already can’t wait for next year and seeing the young people and their ideas progress from hesitant exploration to confident delivery.”

Ruth Randle, Reward and Recognition Manager at Northern Gas Networks, volunteered at the St Leonards Hospice charity shop in Selby.

“I loved my volunteering, it gave me an opportunity to support a local charity which is very dear to my heart.”

A huge thank you to all Northern Gas Networks colleagues who have been busy volunteering!

Find out more about Volunteers’ Week here