Young environmentalists go Beyond the Drain at treatment works

Youngsters from Southern Water’s regional charity partner, Young Pollinators, took part in the ‘Beyond the Drain’ event at the Peacehaven site, near Brighton. 

The interactive tours, which were launched in March, are hosted by Southern Water’s education team and also give visitors the chance to quiz the team who work there – including about careers with the company. 

The Young Pollinators is a youth branch of the wider Community Supporters charity, based in Hastings, which aims to improve nature alongside residents’ lives and life opportunities. This is achieved through engagement activities, training, and enabling access for all – in the Rother district and beyond. 

This youth group was co-created by young people themselves, to provide a safe space to learn about the environment, and to then develop the skills to find solutions for environmental improvements. There is also the chance to undertake training or achieve qualifications, and develop skills that can be used in their adult lives, such as resilience, self-confidence, communication and more.  

Daniel Rodrigues, Southern Water’s Community Engagement Officer, said:  

“We were delighted to welcome the Young Pollinators to Peacehaven. We had a fantastic time together, and we were really impressed with the questions posed about our site and the water industry in general. 

“We hope that our ‘Beyond the Drain’ tours are helping to open our doors to the community, so they can feel more informed about what we do, ask us questions, and join us in thinking about water differently.”