Steve scoops community award
A community worker from Springfields Fuels Ltd, who helps young people to enjoy exciting outdoor adventures, has been rewarded for more than 20 years of charitable dedication.
Steve Whitehead, the Community Relations Manager at the Westinghouse-operated nuclear fuel manufacturing site at Springfields, has received a Westinghouse Community Services Award for his services to the Lancashire Outward Bound Association (LOBA). Steve is one of only five employees out of 15,000 Westinghouse employees worldwide to receive a 2010 Community Award.
He receives a commemorative plaque and $500 (approximately £330) to donate to the Association's funds.
He said: "I am delighted to win this award. It is nice to get recognition for the work that the Outward Bound Association does in Lancashire. The money is very welcome and will be put to good use to help youngsters enjoy our activities."
For the last 10 years Steve has taken on the role of secretary, effectively acting as the main driving force within the Association, as well as maintaining his involvement with fund-raising and public relations. For the last three years he has also served on the Outward Bound Project Management Group, whose role it is to co-ordinate the activates of the 20 volunteer Associations throughout the UK.
LOBA was formed in 1978 and now helps sponsor hundreds of young people from Lancashire on Outward Bound courses. Many go as individuals, but an idea pioneered in Lancashire involves groups of students with special needs being integrated on courses with able-bodied young people from their own community.
Integrated courses consist of six students from a special needs school teaming up with six similar aged pupils from a main stream secondary high school. The special needs usually comprise a range of learning difficulties. This format has proved very successful and is welcomed by the staff and pupils alike.
Steve is also involved with other charities, both inside and outside of work. These include the Community Impact Group in Preston, which is a group of private and public sector companies based in and around Preston, who work in partnership to develop their involvement in the community for maximum impact. As Chairman of the Group, Steve can often be found helping out in his own time on challenges within the local community, such as the refurbishment of the Fox Street Night Shelter in Preston.
Steve's philosophy is that he believes in using the skills and opportunities he has been given at Springfields into putting something back into the community.
"There are many people in the Company who unselfishly give their own time to support community projects," said Neil Longfellow, Managing Director of Springfields Fuels Limited. "Their community involvement is largely unknown to their colleagues, so it is very welcome when someone like Steve, who has dedicated over 20 years commitment to the Lancashire Outward Bound Association, receives some public recognition. He thoroughly deserves his award."
The Westinghouse Community Service Awards recognise employees who contribute outstanding personal service to their communities and supports Westinghouse’s commitment to making the communities around their sites better places to live and work.
Photo: Steve Whitehead, left receives his Community Service Award from Neil Longfellow, Managing Director of Springfields Fuels Limited.
Additional information:
Outward Bound is recognised as the ultimate form of personal development, particularly for young people. The Outward Bound Trust, a registered charity, operates 4 Outward Bound centres in the wild parts of Britain; Wales, the Lake District and Western Scotland.
Physical challenges are used as a means of experiencing and identifying human emotions. Outward Bound teaches about many things; not least about the self! Courses involve students working in small groups on problem solving tasks which require effort, commitment, organisation and co-operation. Activities range from canoeing, rock climbing, potholing, abseiling, camping and offshore sailing to catering, planning, public speaking, and reviewing results. Outward Bound is hard work, and good fun. Participants invariably leave with a little regret, a feeling of achievement and a new confidence and purpose for the future.
The Lancashire Outward Bound Association
Are a voluntary organisation providing financial support to enable young people who, without their support and assistance, would not be able to enjoy the Outward Bound experience.
