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Wales & West Utilities has donated a bench to encourage friendships at a Torquay school.

Over the summer break, the gas emergency and pipeline service commissioned a bespoke friendship, or buddy, bench which has been installed in the playground of Shiphay Learning Academy in the hope that pupils can use it to make more friends and encourage conversation.

The bench, which is crafted from sweet chestnut timber from sustainably managed Devon woodlands, has been carved with the wording ‘Buddy Bench’ which helps children to signal that they’re looking for someone to play or talk with. The bench was donated after Wales & West Utilities carried out a project to upgrade 900 metres of gas pipes in the Collaton Road area of the town.

Head of School at Shiphay Learning Academy, Kate Lee, explains:

Wales & West Utilities has recently carried out work to upgrade the gas pipes in the area and we knew of the fantastic support they provide to the communities in which they work, so approached the local manager, Rob Rose.

First Line Manager, Rob, was only too happy to see how his employees could help.

Rob successfully secured funding which allowed the bench to be specially made and was delighted that it could be installed, ready for the new school year.

Rob said:

As a company, we are committed to positively impact the communities in which our engineers work, and those that we work in. It’s been fantastic to give something back to the pupils of Shiphay Learning Academy and we hope the bench will help pupils for many, many years. It’s great to see it in situ and see the joy it’s bringing to pupils.

Kate continued:

This donation means such a lot to our pupils, as well as our school staff. We know that pupils sometimes struggle with finding a friend during break times and this bench will serve us well for a long time.

On behalf of Shiphay Learning Academy I’d like to thank Rob and the rest of the Wales & West Utilities team for their support in committing to this project – the bench looks fantastic and is a fantastic addition to our playground environment.

Wales & West Utilities completed a £900,000 project to upgrade gas pipes in the Collaton Road area of Torquay in June. The work was essential to keep the gas flowing safely to heat and power local homes and businesses. Wales & West Utilities worked closely with Torbay Council to plan the scheme and traffic management was in place throughout.

Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5m people across the south west of England and Wales. If you smell gas, or suspect the presence of carbon monoxide, call us on 0800 111 999 straight away, and our engineers will be there to help any time of day or night.