Volunteers from Water Plus grabbed spades and rakes to get outdoor spaces in great shape, so pupils can thrive and learn more about nature and climate change.
The collaborative action is providing more chances for school children to connect with nature, gain greater awareness about the importance of water and water cycles and learn how to care for nature and natural resources in the future.
The Challenge
Revitalising school grounds for outdoor learning
Overgrown green areas were limiting access to outside learning spaces for school pupils and Co-op Academies Trust Community Development Managers needed a proactive team to help deliver their ambitions.
The space at Co-op Academy Grove was not being utilised, though the school wanted to use more of its grounds to help children to grow their knowledge, skills and build awareness around the environment.
The solution
Collaborative effort improves learning environments
Water Plus worked with Community Development Managers at Co-op Academies Trust on the day, agreeing how to make the best impact possible from the volunteering.
Five volunteers from Water Plus took part in the action at Co-op Academy Grove, helping lay bark and cut back overgrown sections to increase access to the area. It was the finishing ground work and touches needed so the area at Co-op Academy Grove could be used for summer term activities.
And others from Water Plus joined an activity day at Co-op Academy Friarswood, collaborating with other businesses to improve access for their environment garden.
The results
Creating impact for schools and employees
The volunteering made a difference not only to the academies – it also increased pride and happiness with Water Plus employees, supporting wellbeing.
The eco garden at Co-op Academy Grove will be used for pupils as a sensory garden, as well as building awareness and learning about the environment. It will also form a base for the school’s Eco Club activities.
Ashleigh Hampson, an IT Service Delivery Manager at Water Plus who volunteered at Co-op Academy Grove, said: "It was really nice to be outdoors and making such a difference, as our team’s passionate about providing great customer service, building skills for the future and helping customers with their sustainability goals.
“It’s been great teaming-up with one of our customers to deliver a lasting impact for communities, while raising awareness around positive environmental action to take and I can't wait to see what the children do with the space.”
Deborah Zaher, a Regional Community Development Manager at Co-op Academies Trust who met the Water Plus team, said: “Huge thank you to the amazing volunteers from Water Plus!
“They were an incredible team to work with on the day, enthusiastic and doing whatever needed to be done to help transform this learning space for the children of Co-op Academy Grove.”
Co-op Academies Trust
Co-op Academies Trust has schools and colleges located across 4 regions.
There are 38 Co-op Academies with more than 21,000 students across primary, secondary, post-16 and special educational needs, with plans for more schools to join in the coming year.
The volunteering action in 2026 follows Water Plus employees helping to gather more than 80 crates of donations for a Foodbank and volunteers joining a girls and ladies league flagship Cup Final event for 200 young footballers and attended by 2,000 people, in the last year.
Water Plus, which is also part of a Careers hub working with schools, to help young people thrive in the future.
More on the additional actions Water Plus is taking to help the environment, supporting projects preventing carbon emissions, increasing water efficiency and helping communities, at: www.water-plus.co.uk/about-us/corporate-social-responsibility-sustainability/ .
Additional information:
83 crates of donated items gathered in Water Plus volunteering for Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank, with food donations amounted to more than 880kg, in November 2025. The amount collected will feed 90 people with three nutritionally balanced meals, for three days, in the emergency food packs. Volunteers from Water Plus joined the Staffordshire Girls and Ladies League Cup Final event in May 2025.
