Staff from SSE Airtricity Utility Solutions, Ireland's largest street lighting contractor, took a break from their day jobs to help out at the Abbey Arts Centre in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
The Abbey Arts Centre in Ballyshannon has been open since 1959 and hosts a number of community activities, including theatre, music, comedy, dance, visual arts, education and film.
Through its Community at Heart scheme, SSE Airtricity gives every employee the opportunity to take a day away from their usual schedule and donate their time to a charity or community group of their choice.
In the past, staff members have volunteered for organisations such as Barnardo’s, the Daisies Café and Habitat for Humanity.
Employees from the SSE Airtricity Utility Solutions’ Donegal depot helped with cleaning and repairs at the Abbey Arts Centre. Their hard day’s work consisted of cleaning gutters, fixing light fittings, putting up vents and power hosing the entire building.
Barry McCrudden, SSE Airtricity Utility Solutions, said: “It was a really worthwhile day. It’s great to give something back to the community. The guys at the centre seemed delighted with our help, and that’s what matters most at the end of the day. It was also a lot of fun and it’s always nice for our team to do something together away from our normal nine-to-fives.
"The Community at Heart programme is a fantastic opportunity for SSE Airtricity employees to help their local community and experience something new at the same time. I would encourage everyone to use their Community at Heart day during the year.”
For more information on the Abbey Arts Centre in Ballyshannon visit abbeycentre.ie, and to learn more about SSE's Community at Heart programme go to www.sse.com/community.