[16 December] 150 Happiness Hampers delivered just in time for Christmas with help from National Grid

National Grid and a local property company have teamed up with the YMCA Thames Gateway to deliver 150 Happiness Hampers to struggling families in Dartford, just in time for Christmas.

National Grid is currently working to replace the substation at Littlebrook, Dartford in order to ensure a reliable and efficient electricity supply. The neighbouring site is being developed by Bericote Properties to create one of the largest warehouses in Europe, so the two companies teamed up to bring some Christmas cheer to the local community.

Collection boxes were set up at the Littlebrook substation site with hundreds of pounds worth of food donated by National Grid and contractor Balfour Beatty team members.

The teams collected enough food and presents to pack over 150 hampers and volunteered alongside the YMCA Thames Gateway team to pack and deliver the Happiness Hampers to local families.

Marc Johnson, National Grid Assistant Project Engineer, said: “Covid-19 has had a devastating impact with an increasing number of families are finding themselves in a vulnerable position. With many people losing their jobs, the team working on our site at Littlebrook, near Dartford wanted to make sure that local families have a Christmas to remember and not one to forget.

“National Grid prides itself on giving back to the communities we work in. We had great fun putting the hampers together and we hope the festive treats bring a smile to the faces of those struggling in Dartford.”

Emma Middleton, YMCA Thames Gateway Fundraising Manager, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with requests for help this year and were struggling to see how we would cope with the demand. We’re so thankful to the National Grid and Bericote Properties teams who pulled together these amazing donations.

“This generous donation has made sure a little bit of Christmas magic reaches those struggling this year.”


Contact for media information only:

Helen Blake

National Grid
07790 824788

[email protected]

 

Notes to Editors:

National Grid in the UK:

• We own and operate the electricity transmission network in England and Wales, with day-to-day responsibility for balancing supply and demand. We also operate, but do not own, the Scottish networks. Our networks comprise approximately 7,200 kilometres (4,474 miles) of overhead line, 1,500 kilometres (932 miles) of underground cable and 342 substations.
• We own and operate the gas National Transmission System in Great Britain, with day-to-day responsibility for balancing supply and demand. Our network comprises approximately 7,660 kilometres (4,760 miles) of high-pressure pipe and 618 above-ground installations.
• As Great Britain’s System Operator (SO) we make sure gas and electricity is transported safely and efficiently from where it is produced to where it is consumed.  From April 2019, Electricity System Operator (ESO) is a new standalone business within National Grid, legally separate from all other parts of the National Grid Group. This will provide the right environment to deliver a balanced and impartial ESO that can realise real benefits for consumers as we transition to a more decentralised, decarbonised electricity system.
• Other UK activities mainly relate to businesses operating in competitive markets outside of our core regulated businesses; including interconnectors, gas metering activities and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) importation terminal – all of which are now part of National Grid Ventures. National Grid Property is responsible for the management, clean-up and disposal of surplus sites in the UK. Most of these are former gas works.

Find out more about the energy challenge and how National Grid is helping find solutions to some of the challenges we face at https://www.nationalgrid.com/group/news

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