Gas Engineer Shortlisted for National Award for Making a Difference During Lockdown

  • 29th June 2020

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A gas engineer from whg has been shortlisted for a national award for making a difference during lockdown.

Darren Cook has been nominated for a HQN Frontline Stars Award after he clocked up hundreds of miles, working as part of a team to deliver in excess of 5000 food parcels to some of Walsall’s most vulnerable households.

Darren, who has continued to carry out emergency repairs and gas servicing as part of whg’s asset management team, also supported the community hubs which were set up by Walsall Council to coordinate the borough’s response to the pandemic.

Darren was the project champion in starting up the food hub delivery work, delivering food and prescription parcels to not just whg’s vulnerable customers but also assisting Walsall Council reaching out to the wider community across the Walsall area. So far he has helped deliver 5,200 food parcels 150 prescriptions, 267 activity boxes and 19 Fathers’ Day boxes.

whg’s Chief Executive Gary Fulford said: “At the start of the pandemic we decided to make colleagues available to support other statutory and voluntary sector groups during the pandemic.

“Darren had no hesitation in putting himself forward. He quickly gained a rapport with local charities and supported the development of critical food hubs and co-ordinated a small of team of delivery drivers to ensure vulnerable residents received essential supplies and prescriptions. His enthusiasm and tenacity has also seen him negotiate with local companies for free food and supplies, even securing two electrical cool boxes to help transport fresh meat.

“He’s a very deserving finalist.”

All those shortlisted now go forward to the final.

 

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