Nationwide shares Safety Observation charity pot

Bolton, UK-based charity High Hopes 4 Halliwellbeing has been selected to receive a share of Nationwide Platforms’ 2025 Safety Observation Scheme donation pot, an annual fund built from employee safety reports that will be distributed to chosen charities in December.

The UK’s leading powered access company runs the Safety Observation Scheme to encourage its workforce to submit safety observations — including positive examples — and near-miss reports. Each submission adds UK£1 to the yearly total, which is then shared between nominated charities. Staff can submit reports quickly and easily via a portal accessible on company laptops and phones.

Geoff Morton, Volunteer Walk Leader and Aileen Baxter (in hi-vis), Peer Community Worker at High Hopes 4 Halliwel. (Image: Nationwide Platforms).

High Hopes 4 Halliwellbeing was nominated by Jonny Kay, an HGV Class 1 Driver at Nationwide Platforms whose aunt, Steff Stather, was on the steering group to take the charity forward, alongside his grandmother. Based at St. Paul’s Community Centre, the organisation supports people without family or social networks, and those recovering from illness, addiction or loneliness.

Kay said, “It began as a small group, but we soon realised how many people in the area needed community and support. They have around 350-400 people per month that they support at the centre.”

Wide programme 

The charity runs a wide programme of activities, from quiz nights and walking groups to chair yoga and line dancing classes, cultural events for minority communities and technology training for older residents. 

It also hosts two annual fun days (Summer and Christmas Fairs) to bring members together, which Kay regularly attends to support and help out with his family. For a lot of the attendees, it’s simply a place where they can go and meet up and experience friendship and belonging.

“All donations go straight back into running these activities and the upkeep of the community centre,” Katy added. “It’s predominantly volunteer-led. All of the Trustees running the charity either have full-time jobs or are retired, and all the donations we get go straight back into the charity. It’s a selfless thing, and it’s a testament to the kind of good humans can achieve when they come together.”

The final donation amount from the Safety Observation Scheme pot will be announced in December 2025.

The Safety Observation Scheme is part of Nationwide Platforms’ wider safety commitment, which includes pioneering innovations such as the Harness On device, designed to prevent falls from height, and the SkySiren PCS system, which reduces the risk of entrapment when working at height.