Being a force for good in the local community is one of our core ambitions – we want to provide social, economic and environmental benefits to the area in which we operate, demonstrating that our energy matters.
Throughout the year, we support a range of local charity and community groups in a number of different ways. Over the last few years members of our team have done the Lykewake Walk, cycled the C2C route, done “It's a Knockout”, completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks, undertaken tree planting projects, volunteered their skills and free time, sold eggs and held social events to raise money for a range of local charities and community groups. Over £200,000 has been raised and donated to date.
We work closely with the Smile Foundation, but are always interested to hear of other worthwhile initiatives that may benefit from our support. We can offer support in a number of different ways – in the past we’ve made financial donations, provided expertise, given volunteering support, held fundraising events, aided Tree Planting projects or given used furniture/equipment to community groups. We’ve been proud to support a number of local charities and community groups including; The Smile Foundation, the Echoes Foundation, KIDS, Dove House Hospice, Leaps, Hedon Youth Group, Paull Primary School, Humber Police Lifestyle Rock Challenge, Ferriby Disabled Riding Club, the Charlie Hook Appeal and many more.
A team from Vivergo will shortly undertake the C2C challenge, cycling from the West coast town of Morcambe and ending in Bridlington on the East Coast. During our crossing riders will be climbing and descending over 7,500 feet of tiring hills, passing over the Yorkshire Dales and Yorkshire Wolds taking on Lancaster, Settle, Grassington, Pateley Bridge, Ripon, York and Driffield to name but a few. The aim is to raise money for the refurbishment of the Sunshine House 'Children's Hospice' garden.
If you have an initiative that you think Vivergo could put some energy to then get in touch!
A core part of our Creed here at Vivergo is sustaining the wellbeing of the people we work with and the environment we live in.
As part of this commitment, being a catalyst for good in the local area is hugely important to us and as such we deliver a range of activities to support charities and community groups in the local area.
Sunshine House is a facility based in Hull offering palliative and terminal care and support to children and their families throughout Hull & East Yorkshire.
We are delighted to have worked with Sunshine House, and supported 2012's Christmas Party at The Sunshine House Hospice. Thanks to money raised at the Vivergo Fuels Christmas Party in 2011, Children at Sunshine House enjoyed a Christmas Party and gifts, for all at the hospital. These gifts range from standard to specialist toys to aid with the children's ongoing care and development.
Christmas gave us the opportunity once again to spend time within our local communities and celebrate the festivities with you all.
On Friday 30th November, we visited Hedon Town Centre, with a family of reindeers, and our very own Vinnie - the furry reindeer. We met well over 500 of the local residents, and had a great night doing so.
That wasn't all though we travelled to the Arctic on December 13th and 14th, taking a little bit of Explorer Life to Preston and Paull. Paull Primary School and Preston Village Hall were transformed into Snow Covered venues, and we hosted a set of Husky Dogs, and a real life explorer to tell you all about life and travel in the Arctic. We also managed to squeeze in a visit to Hedon Inmans, where Key Stage 1 had a meet and greet with both our Huskies and Oli.
We loved celebrating Christmas in our Communities, and can't wait until we see you all again next year!
We’re pleased to once again offer our support to the LEAPS Christmas Countdwon event, which this year takes place on Monday 26 November at Hull City Hall. Headlining the event this year are Eurovision winners, Brotherhood of Man which will be supported by a range of local entertainment acts. LEAPS (Local Entertainers and Performers Society) was established 4 years ago and raises money for local charities by staging shows. Mally King, the LEAPS Chairman and Organiser said: “I am delighted Brotherhood of Man have agreed to support our event. It’s set to be a great night.” The concert will raise money for Dove House’s Love You 2 Appeal and Kingstown Radio. The event starts at 7.15pm and finishes at 10.45pm. Tickets are priced at £12.50 and are available from the Hull City Council Box Office.
Vivergo Fuels has achieved a very significant safety milestone at its Saltend based site, completing 5 million hours over the last 3 and half years of construction activity without a Day Away from Work Case (DAFWC). During this time there were up to 1200 people working at the site. This is the same as Vivergo (c. 80 people) operating for 40 years without any employee losing time from work due to injury. In recognition of this achievement, Vivergo and its main contractor partners have got together to donate over £20,000 to a range of local and national charities.
The charities are:
• Hornsea Inshore Rescue, nominated by Vivergo Fuels – a vital rescue service manned entirely by volunteers. Vivergo Fuels will be sponsoring the jet bike, which forms part of the rapid response unit allowing some of the most dangerous rescue operations to take place.
• Friends of PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Southampton General Hospital), nominated by Jacobs - supporting the children and their families by providing vital equipment and services that are not normally provided by the statutory authorities.
• The Haemophilia Society & Special Smiles, nominated by Cleartech - The Haemophilia Society is the only national and independent organisation for all people affected by bleeding disorders. Special Smiles is based in Hull and East Riding and provides support for disabled children and their families.
• The Braiden Lee Prescott Appeal, nominated by Deborah Services Ltd (DSL) – raising funds to send Braiden to America for Life Saving Treatment for Neuroblastoma.
• Weston Park Hospital Development Fund and Lindsey Lodge Hospice, nominated by The Clugston Group – West Park providesinformation and support to cancer patients, their carers and friends, in South Yorkshire. Lindsey Lodge Hospice offers very special care for people in the North Lincolnshire area living with life-limiting conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease.
• Downright Special, nominated by TEI – providing support and advice to parents in the local area, on all aspects of caring for a child with Down Syndrome.
• St Andrew’s Hospice, nominated by Intertek – 'Making each day count' is the motto at St Andrew’s in Grimsby, which provides hospitality and care for adults and children.
Andy Bulman, Operations Director at Vivergo Fuels, said: “We are committed to sustaining the wellbeing of the people we work with and the environment we live in, and it’s great to have achieved this significant milestone with such a good safety record. This achievement is testament to the huge effort required and delivered by everybody involved with the Vivergo Fuels business.”
He added: “We are delighted that a number of charities – both local and national – will benefit from the safe working practices of ourselves and the businesses that have worked with us. We are committed to continuing this well into the future by remaining focused on doing the right thing.”
He concluded: “It’s a great feeling for employees across Vivergo and our contractor partners to see their favourite charities benefit from everyone working safely together.”
Donations approaching £200,000 have been made to local and national charities as well as a range of community groups in the last 4 years as a result of the Vivergo activities.
The Vivergo Fuels plant, which will be one of Europe’s largest producers of bioethanol and the UK’s biggest single site supplier of animal feed, will be operational later this year.
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Freedom Road Creative Arts and the RAPP project scooped 1st place and a gold framed Award at the very first Humberside Police Rock Challenge Youth Division Event, presented by Vivergo Fuels held on Tuesday 17th July at the Hull New Theatre.
Freedom Road Creative Arts and RAPP came out on top with their fantastic performance ‘Zombie Explosion’ They also received five awards including Vivergo Fuels Award for Soundtrack, Vivergo Fuels Award for Make-up Design, Vivergo Fuels Award for Costume Design, Vivergo Fuels Award for Lighting Design and finally Humberside Police Award for Spirit of Rock Challenge.
Iain Thompson of Freedom Road Creative Arts said, “The young people, staff and volunteers of Freedom Road Creative Arts are absolutely delighted with their success in winning the Youth Division of Rock Challenge. The young people will cherish and build on this experience for a long time to come. It will instil confidence and self belief in all that took part and have a positive impact in areas of their lives in which they, at times struggle. Freedom Road Creative Arts works in partnership with organisations such as Rock Challenge and Humberside Police and Vivergo Fuels to provide the young people who access the work of the charity with these kinds of opportunities and would like to thank all those who made this Youth Division possible”.
White House PRU (Pupil Referral Unit) in collaboration with Gillshill Primary came in second place, and received Vivergo Fuels Award for Choreography, Vivergo Fuels Award for Performance Skill, Vivergo Fuels Award for Hair Design, Vivergo Fuels Award for Entertainment and Vivergo Fuels Award for Performers’ Choice for their performance.
Dave Richards, Managing Director at Vivergo Fuels said: “What a fantastic and inspiring evening! Everyone involved should be very proud of the performances delivered which were truly exceptional. It was fantastic to see such energy, enthusiasm, joy, passion and very genuine teamwork. We are delighted to have been involved and commend the Humberside Police Youth Engagement Team and Be Your Best Foundation for bringing this exceptional event to Hull.”
We've donated one of our site cabins to Preston Parish Council for use as their new Council HQ - their current office is the Clerk's front room!
It is now located at the rear of Preston Village Hall and will be open to residents of the village on a regular basis - providing a place to drop in and have a chat about village issues, as well as to view plans and proposals.
The Parish Councillors (pictured) are absolutely delighted with this donation, saying that they would never have been able to fund their own office. We hope it's well used by the local community!!
Vivergo has linked up with Hornsea School and has helped them plant 40 trees on the school site.
Marie Atkinson and Kirsty Hussey visited the school on March 31 to assist with planting. They met with some of the pupils and staff involved in the project. School Governor, Caroline Kirkwood said "It is exciting and pleasing for the school to be sponsored by Vivergo. We are a rural school and Vivergo are using rural products to manufacture fuel, so we are both equally passionate about sustaining the environment".
The Extended Schools Manager, Sally Richardson added: "We are delighted that we have been given this funding to help enhance our site and involve the students in the planting of the tress to help sustain the environment and take pride in our school".
The team at Vivergo Fuels has achieved its goal of raising £20,000 to fund a custom-built caravan for local charity, the Echoes Foundation.
This will offer families who have children with special or additional needs the opportunity to spend some quality time together at a local holiday park.
Marie Atkinson, HR Manager at Vivergo Fuels who runs the company's programme of charity work, commented: "The Echoes Foundation was selected as our annual charity last year and since that time we've been raising money – in a variety of different and often challenging ways – to fund the caravan which will be available for use by families from March next year."
Vivergo Fuels has achieved another significant safety milestone at its Saltend based construction site, completing three million hours without a Day Away from Work Case (DAFWC).
This is the same as 40 people working for 40 years on a construction site without an injury that would cause a loss of a single working day. In recognition of this achievement, Vivergo and its managing contractor, Aker Solutions, have donated £20,000 to five charities nominated by the workforce.
The workforce at the Vivergo Fuels construction site - which comprises approximately 600 people – and the company’s employees were invited to put their nominations into a draw and five charities were randomly pulled out, each to be awarded £4,000.
Sunday 21 August was the Humber Business swim, an event arranged by Warners Health. The event aimed to promote health and wellbeing for all within local businesses.
Steve Hawtree offered to be the swimmer representing Vivergo Fuels. Steve completed the challenge which took approximately an hour and a half and was 1.5 miles in length. Although the event was a challenge and not solely for charity fundraising any donations are towards Cerebra, a charity for children with neurological conditions.
Eleven members of the Vivergo team recently completed the 140 mile Coast to Coast cycle challenge, in support of the Echoes Foundation.
The team cycled the width of England from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Tynemouth in Northumbria. They endured torrential rain and four punctures but raised over £3500 for the Echoes Caravan.
In a bid to promote career opportunities in our sector, HETA (Humberside Engineering Training Association) organised a Post 16 Renewable Energy Conference on 12th July, for those who are involved in further education relating to this industry across the Humber region.
To gain an understanding of our business in advance of the event and the sorts of careers that are available, a group of 13 College lecturers in Physics, Chemistry and Electronics – from Colleges in Hull, Scunthorpe and Grimsby - visited the Vivergo site in June 2011. Members of the Vivergo team were also involved in the conference.
Members of the Vivergo team have recently completed the 42 mile Lyke Wake Walk to raise money for the Echoes Foundation.
The walk spans the North Yorkshire Moors National Park and the team did it overnight! Fundraising is ongoing throughout the year, with the aim of raising £20,000 to fund a specially adapted caravan for use through the Echoes Foundation, for families with disabled children in the local area.
Vivergo Fuels has been proud to sponsor ultra-marathon man Andrew Murray, who recently completed his Scotland to Sahara challenge – a full week ahead of schedule.
The 30-year-old doctor literally ran from his home in Scotland to the Sahara; a distance of 2,650 miles in just 78 days. Andrew ran an average of more than 34 miles a day - in what is thought to be a world record. He even added extra miles to each of his daily runs and managed to finish a week early!
Dr Murray said: "It was an amazing feeling to see the Sahara Desert and finish - it was one of my best memories."
Andrew started his epic expedition on November 8 in John O'Groats and has received support from Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Sir Steve Redgrave and the Queen. Andrew’s challenge saw him having to eat enough calories for two-and-a-half men each day and coping with some of the worst wintry weather Europe has seen in decades.
Andrew's aim is to raise £100,000 for the Yamaa Trust which is dedicated to reducing poverty in the South Gobi region of Mongolia, and his mammoth run has raised over half - £51,000.
An inspiration to us all, Andrew said: "The physical challenge was huge. I've been through some tough weeks with knee and Achilles tendon injuries, but I think the toughest part was mental, having to get up and run 30 odd miles even when the weather was awful and everything hurt."
Vivergo Fuels was one of the corporate sponsors.
The HEYwoods Initiative aims to increase tree and woodland cover and to improve the management of existing trees, woods and associated habitats in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Vivergo has been working with the HEYwoods Initiative and tree planting projects have taken place at Stockwell, Sidmouth and Longhill Primary Schools as well as at Paull Cemetery.
During 2010, the Vivergo team was delighted to work with KIDS, a charity supporting disabled children and their families in Hull and East Yorkshire.
Vivergo worked closely with KIDS over the year and raised over £20,000 to support the development of a new conservatory, accessible toilet area and landscaped garden at the charity's regional base in Hull.
