National Grid’s Eileen Griffin has won a prestigious Chairman’s Award for helping to teach Birmingham children the dangers of playing near high-voltage electricity pylons.
Eileen, who works at National Grid’s offices in Warwick, won £2,000 to be divided between her chosen charities – the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (Brazil Mission) and Save the Children (Kroo Bay, Sierra Leone Mission).
Eileen was nominated for the award for her work to fight the rise in the number of inner city teenagers playing on or around the electricity transmission pylons in the Birmingham area. She arranged for over 30 children from one of Birmingham’s largest primary schools to visit National Grid’s training facility at Eakring, Nottinghamshire, where they were taken through National Grid’s electricity and gas safety messages.
Eileen has continued the project, and the safety messages have now reached 300 children and their families in the Birmingham area – with others set to follow. The project has also opened up the world of engineering to children, teaching them about the work of National Grid and inspiring them in their future career choices.
The Chairman’s Awards recognise the achievements of National Grid employees and contractors in safety, health, environment, community contribution, customer service and inclusion and diversity. They celebrate those who demonstrate the power of action by going ‘above and beyond’ their day job in the pursuit of excellence.
Eileen said: “Children and their families throughout Birmingham see the friendly face of National Grid, and I hope our safety messages are understood and will be used in an emergency.”
-Ends-
For further media information only, please contact Doranna Rizzo, National Grid Media Relations, on 01926 655373 or 07816 151221