The BPEC Charity Life Award 2014 presents £35,000 to plumbing good causes

£35,000 has been given in charitable donations by training and certification provider, BPEC, to projects that use plumbing skills to enhance the lives others less fortunate either here in the UK or abroad.

At its third Life Award presentation ceremony held at Derby County Football Club, on Friday 10th October and attended by over 100 representatives of the Plumbing Industry, The BPEC Charity made three major awards to deserving projects. In addition a new ‘Legacy Fund’ was also launched at the event. This new initiative will help to ensure projects supported by the Life Award are sustainable by supporting them over a longer period.

The BPEC Charity were also delighted to welcome Cal Bailey of NG Bailey as their guest speaker at the event. Cal spoke of the business benefits and positive impact that can be gained from firms in our industry being involved in charitable activities.

The BPEC Charity Life Award 2014 was presented to Dean Buchanan from Datum Foundation, the project he is involved in aims to assist the development of a new secondary school being built in Malawi. Dean received an initial award of £10,357 from The BPEC Charity, along with pledges of further support for the next three years.

Achieving the Award will allow the team to install a clean water supply system, including a bore hole, solar panel and pump, water tower and water cisterns and sand filtration systems. The funding will also assist in the development of a plumbing workshop facility, helping supply the necessary tools and materials to assist in the teaching and learning activities.

The BPEC Charity also awarded £10,600 to the Peace and Hope Trust (PHT). PHT has been working amongst the poorest communities in Nicaragua for over two decades. Support from the Life Award will help build and equip a vocational centre with an emphasis of teaching basic plumbing skills.

£13,500 was presented to Jeffrey Cohen from Water Works. Water Works is a grassroots charity committed to supporting rural Malawian communities gain access to safe drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities. Improving the standards of clean drinking water and sanitation across 10 villages will improve the lives of over 300 households in Malawi.

BPEC chairman Frank Glover said: “2014 has been a brilliant Life Award; the panel of Trustees have been truly inspired by the submissions that have been received this year”.

Frank Glover went on to say: “The Life Award continues to have an inspirational effect on everyone connected with the projects and is changing perspectives and attitudes in a really positive way. The experience the Plumbers gain by being involved in the projects is immeasurable and helps to develop their skills to operate in today’s competitive marketplace”.

The BPEC Life Award is gathering momentum and is a true force for good in today’s society and the search has now started for applicants for the 2015 BPEC Charity Life Award. Everyone who works in or is connected to the UK Plumbing sector is encouraged to make a submission for consideration by the panel.

The closing date for applications for the 2015 BPEC Life Award is 30th June 2015.

BPEC (Training) Ltd otherwise known as the BPEC Charity is a registered charity committed to identifying the education and training needs of those who work in the Plumbing industry and providing innovative solutions to address their needs. The Life Award was launched in 2012, in memory of BPEC’s founding Chairman Raymond J Brooks, to reward and support those in the UK plumbing industry who use plumbing skills to enhance life.

There are two other opportunities for financial support from the BPEC Charity that’s open to everyone working in the UK plumbing industry; these are the Support Fund and the Sport Awards. To find out more about submitting entries to any of the awards please visit www.bpec.org.uk/the-bpec-charity