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My Community
My Community
We have customers in every part of Northern Ireland and our staff live here so we understand the importance of contributing positively to our communities. To help the more vulnerable in our communities, Power NI has a range of schemes and programmes dedicated to offer practical help. Find out more here.
Charitable Giving
Each year Power NI staff choose a charity to fund raise for amongst staff. Power NI is pleased to announce that Macmillan Cancer Support NI has been nominated as the company charity for 2012/2013.
Powerful Partnership with Macmillan
Power NI’s placement students are set to organise a range of fundraisers throughout the incoming year so Power NI staff can raise money for the local charity. Last year staff raised an impressive £7,125 for the Northern Ireland Hospice.
On Friday 28th September, Power NI is set to take part in the Macmillan ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.’ Power NI placement student Laura McElroy commented; “We are delighted that to be working alongside Macmillan Cancer Support. We are very hopeful that staff will continue to generously support the company charity and raise some much needed funding for the organisation throughout the year.”
Macmillan Cancer Support NI is a charity which aims to improve the lives of those affected by cancer inNorthern Ireland. They offer a range of practical, medical, emotional and financial help and have recently opened an information and support centre inBelfast.
Joanne Young, fundraising manager at Macmillan added; “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Power NI. As we receive limited government support, we rely heavily on the support of local businesses to sustain our services and are extremely grateful to Power NI for their support.
“I have met with the team at Power NI and I am extremely encouraged by their enthusiasm and have no doubt that they will push themselves to reach maximum funds in all of their fundraising efforts.”
Charities supported in the past
Over the last number of years, Power NI staff have raised many thousands of pounds for local charities. Here are the most recent:
2011/2012 – Northern Ireland Hospice
£7,125 raised
Northern Ireland Hospice is a local charity dedicated to local people, caring for over 3,000 adults, children and young people each year with life-limiting and life threatening conditions.
“Power NI has made a valuable contribution to the work of the Hospice – helping us to provide much needed support to patients, their families and their carers.
“On behalf of NI Hospice, I would like to congratulate Amy, Faye and Kirsty as well as all the staff at Power NI for their hard work and determination in raising this incredible amount of money.”
Ellen Hillen, Corporate Fundraising Manager, Northern Ireland Hospice
2010/2011 – Ulster Cancer Foundation
£5,400 raised
Ulster Cancer Foundation is a local charity that helps to save lives and enhance the quality of life of everyone affected by cancer through care services, research, prevention, public campaigns and advocacy.
“On behalf of the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF), I would like to thank Lesley Ann, Michelle, Jemma and all the staff at Power NI for their dedication and hard work in raising this fantastic amount of money for our charity.
“It has made a very important contribution to the work of UCF – helping us to continue to provide much needed care services and information for all those affected by cancer. All funds raised for UCF are spent locally to help and support people with cancer in Northern Ireland.”
Maeve Fox, Community Fundraising Manager, Ulster Cancer Foundation
2009/2010 – The Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children
£4,800 raised
The money raised will be shared between the Child Vision and Play Therapy departments to purchase specialised equipment that will enhance the care for the children and improve medical operations.
“I am very touched by the support and dedication the staff at Power NI have put into raising this money for the charity. Without this help we simply could not continue to provide the vital services and support to the children in the Hospital.
“On behalf of the children and staff at the Royal Victoria Hospital, I would like to say a big thank you to everyone at Power NI for this donation.”
Nancy Thompson, Finance Co-ordinator, Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children
2008/2009 – Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children (NICFC)
Over £4,000 raised
“Without similar support, dedication and enthusiasm from companies like Power NI and their staff, we simply could not continue to provide the vital services that families nursing a child with cancer so desperately need, especially in the current economic climate.”
Joanne Steele, Senior and Corporate Fundraiser at NICFC
2007/2008 – Action Cancer
The funds will be used to support Action Cancer’s mammography facility which screens women aged 40-49 and 65+. Screening takes place in Action Cancer House in Belfast and on board the charities mobile unit, the BIG BUS. The contribution by Power NI will enable Action Cancer to provide screening for 80 women.
“I’d really like to thank Arlene, Joanne, Orla and Angeline for their support this year. The partnership is a great example of how companies can get involved with Action Cancer to raise awareness among staff of our life- saving services and raise funds to maintain them.”
Kerry McCrea from Action Cancer
2006/2007 – ChildLine
“Without the help and support of organisations such as Power NI, Childline would not be able to exist and offer the desperately needed help to young people. Anyone can get involved with ChildLine’s work and make a difference to children and young people – while having a great time, too. There are hundreds of ways to get involved, whether as an individual or organisation.”
Leona McEvoy from Childline
If you would like a charity you are involved with to be included for consideration as Power NI’s next chosen charity, please email us here.
North Belfast solar scheme
Our community solar water heating scheme launched in North Belfast in July 2010. This scheme enabled local community organisations to apply for a grant towards the purchase and installation of solar water heating systems.
The Elim Christian Centre at Alexander Park Avenue was one of 11 organisations in the area to avail of the scheme. Pastor John Legge from the Christian Centre commented: “Our building is open seven days a week centre for the community, our door is always open.
“We have lots of groups who meet at our centre and we have to keep the water heated for each group, activity and event so there is no doubt that this our new solar water heating system will help us for many years to come. We owe a big thank you to NIE Energy and it’s great to be able to benefit from their caring approach.”
Other beneficiaries included:
• Brantwood Football Club, Jellicoe Avenue
• First Step Drop In Centre, York Road
• Jennymount Methodist, North Queen Street
• Newington Day Centre, Atlantic Avenue
• North Belfast Memorial Orange Hall, Alexander park Avenue
• Skegoneill Nazarene Church, Shegoneill Road
• St Paul and St Barnabas Church of Ireland
• Star Neighbourhood Centre, Hillman Street
• York Road Civil Defence Bowling Club, Aubyn Street
• Crosscollyer Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Crosscollyer Street
Bogus Callers
Power NI would like to warn all customers following a series of bogus callers to householders across Northern Ireland.
We advise customers to be vigilant and if you are worried that a caller isn’t legitimate, terminate the call or visit. Legitimate companies won’t have a problem with you calling them back. You can find our telephone number on the back of bills or direct debit statements and also in the Yellow Pages and Phonebook, as well as online.
Our Customer Relations Manager Maureen Delaney said: “We have had a number of reports of bogus callers recently. We’ve been in touch with the PSNI and they have told us that this is part of a wider problem with fraudsters pretending to be from banks, credit card and other companies. Unfortunately, incidents of this sort are here happening day and daily. The PSNI advice is to be very careful of people phoning or calling to your home.“
Power NI has a range of services available to offer extra protection from bogus callers. With the company’s ‘Password Scheme’ you can give a password to use each time the company calls.