A group of young plumbers are heading to Africa this month after a £1,000 donation from one of the developers behind Didcot’s major Valley Park scheme.
Persimmon Homes Wessex has donated the funds to support four Renelec apprentices taking part in a Projects Abroad programme in Tanzania. The cheque was presented to 23-year-old apprentice Harry at the Valley Park Charles Church outlet, shortly ahead of National Apprenticeship Week.
During their time in Tanzania, the apprentices will help improve sanitation and access to clean water by installing toilets, digging trenches and laying water pipes at a local daycare school.
Alongside the practical work, they will also engage with children through basic English lessons and sports activities to support wider development.
Renelec, which delivers plumbing works for Persimmon at Valley Park, is working with Projects Abroad, an organisation that has supported more than 135,000 volunteers across 23 countries since its founding.
Once completed, Valley Park will provide 4,254 homes, alongside two primary schools, a SEN school, sports facilities and local centres, creating a sustainable and well-connected new community for Didcot.
All Persimmon homes on the site will include sustainable features such as air source heat pumps, electric vehicle charging points and solar panels.
Persimmon Homes Wessex Sales Director Pauline Fletcher said:
“We are delighted to have been able to give some apprentices a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do some good deeds in a part of the world that will really benefit from it.
“Persimmon is proud to work with Renelec at our popular Valley Park site and we wanted lend a helping hand to their hard-working, young cohort through this brilliant initiative, especially with National Apprenticeship Week around the corner.”
John Skeen, Managing Director of Renelec, added:
“This sponsorship will contribute directly to creating a long-term, sustainable impact abroad while investing in the growth of local talent here at home, so I want to give a big thank you to Persimmon for their help.
“Renelec is a proud partner of Projects Abroad and hopes to secure funding to be able to send a group of Apprentices every year.”
Harry said:
“The experience will not only contribute meaningfully to the community in Tanzania but also provide invaluable personal and professional development for me and the other apprentices joining the trip. We are incredibly grateful for the support Persimmon and others have provided to make this happen.”
