Letters to the editor

Cheshire smiles

Sir, – My first experience of working for Leonard Cheshire Disability was during my student days, when I volunteered at a residential home in Yorkshire. It was an amazing experience I have never forgotten.

London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012 showed what a valuable contribution volunteers make to society, and with the International Day for Persons with Disabilities happening on December 3, I am writing to ask if your readers would like to volunteer with Leonard Cheshire Disability. Not only will you be gaining valuable new skills, you will also be supporting disabled people to live life the way they choose.

Whether you can spare a few hours a week or support us occasionally, your assistance is really valued.

You can help in many different ways, such as using your IT skills to help a disabled person to write an email or surf the internet, supporting people to access sports facilities, driving, gardening, being a shopping buddy and helping out with activities like art or cookery.

Some people are put off volunteering because they don’t know what to expect, or may not know someone who is disabled, but this doesn’t matter. The most important attribute is the willingness to support others and be a part of something bigger. In return you’ll have fun, meet new people and form lasting friendships.

Why not come and join us? To find out more about how to become a Leonard Cheshire Disability volunteer, visit www.LCDisability.org call 0808 808 2236 or email [email protected] – Yours etc.,

CLARE PELHAM

Chief Executive,

Leonard Cheshire Disability

Waterworks

Sir, – Scottish Water is inviting our customers to have their say on the future of water and waste water services in Scotland.

Customers are benefiting from significant investment and improvements made to water infrastructure since our formation in 2002, with drinking water quality and environmental compliance now at its highest ever level. We need to think now about how we build on this and the steps we might need to take to ensure water services and supplies are reliable, resilient and able to stand the test of time.

Everyone living and working in Scotland will continue to depend on water and waste water services. That’s why, in planning for the future and wanting to meet customers’ expectations, Scottish Water has launched a consultation giving customers the chance to tell us whether we have identified the right challenges, opportunities and priorities between now and 2040. The consultation identifies potential opportunities and challenges such as climate change, population movement and developments in science and technology as well as possible measures that could be taken to provide high quality drinking water to all customers, protect and enhance the environment and support the economy well into the future.

This is a terrific opportunity for people to give their views on these issues – specifically to what extent we should prioritise action to protect water supplies from service interruptions, improve the look and taste of water and reduce flooding. We’re also seeking views on future charge levels and the extent to which customers would like to see service improvements in return.

The consultation runs until February 12, 2013 and I would encourage everyone to take part and be a part in shaping the future of water services in Scotland.

You can get in touch through our website www.scottishwater.co.uk/yourviewscount or by writing to Freepost RTBT-EEXB-EJRT, Scottish Water, Daldowie Office, Uddingston, Glasgow G71 7RX. – Yours etc.,

Douglas Millican

Interim Chief Executive

Scottish Water

Castle House

Dunfermline KY11 8GG