Wales & West Utilities supports Tredegar primary fundraiser following recent incident
Gas emergency and pipeline service, Wales & West Utilities has donated £500 to Tredegar’s St Joseph Primary School following a distressing incident last month which sadly saw the school’s minibus stolen, and later found burnt out.
The incident saw the community-funded vehicle stolen from the school grounds before being discovered set on fire, leaving staff, pupils and the wider community shocked and saddened.
Pupils and staff at the school felt the immediate impact of the loss, and with the minibus heavily relied on for day-to-day activities, including educational trips, sporting events, and wider learning opportunities for pupils, a community fundraising campaign launched to help replace the minibus.
John McMorrow, Headteacher at St Joseph Primary School, explains:
“Our small school community is heartbroken after our minibus was stolen and burnt out on the mountain.
“This bus was more than just transportation - it was a lifeline for our children, making it possible for them to attend outdoor learning experiences, sports events, and community activities that enriched their education beyond the classroom.
“As a small school, we rely heavily on resources like this, and without the minibus, our children are now unable to take part in many of the opportunities that help them grow, compete, and thrive.”
Answering the call of the fundraiser, Wales & West Utilities donation has helped the school reach its target.
Matthew Bishop, Wales & West Utilities First Line Manager for Tredegar, said:
“This theft has had such an impact to the St Joseph Primary School community, and with the school playing such a vital role in the local community, we wanted to offer a gesture of support at a time when it is needed most.
“As we prepare to carry out work in the area later this year, we are committed to supporting the communities in which we work, and we hope this donation will go some way to getting the school on the road quickly.”
Mr McMorrow continued:
“We are thrilled at the response to our fundraiser and donations like this are incredibly heartening during a very difficult time.
“On behalf of everyone at the school I’d like to say a huge thank you to Wales & West Utilities for their kind-hearted donation. We’ve had such a positive response and we hope to be in a position to purchase a new bus very soon.”
Wales & West Utilities is the gas emergency and pipeline service, delivering energy to over 7.5 million people across Wales and the south west of England. We don’t sell gas; we transport it through an extensive underground network of more than 35,000 kilometres of pipes.
If you smell gas or suspect carbon monoxide, call the National Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999 immediately. Trained engineers are available 24/7 to respond and keep you safe.