With the region basking in the hottest June for 40 years Severn Trent has released new figures showing that demand for water is significantly up.

Severn Trent’s eight million or so customers used almost 800 million litres on Sunday alone which is the equivalent of 320 Olympic sized swimming pools of wonderful water as they basked in the sun and high temperatures.

And, as demand is so high, the company is offering customers some simple tips to help save water.

Doug Clarke, water efficiency manager at Severn Trent, said: “The hot weather’s due to carry on through the week and water usage is at its peak so it is the perfect time to swat up on some simple water saving tips.

“So, when watering plants, use a watering can rather than a hose, and don’t worry about your lawn because it’ll bounce back once it starts raining again so you can put the sprinkler away.

“To put things into perspective, a sprinkler can use as much as 1,000 litres of drinking water in just one hour – which is more water than a family of four would normally use in a whole day!

It’s been more than 20 years since Severn Trent last had a hosepipe ban in place, and while the company is confident it has enough supply to meet demand, it's still encouraging customers to save what they can.

Doug continues: “Our reservoirs and other water sources are in a healthy position and looking good at the moment but we’re asking our customers to think about being ‘water wise’ in whatever they do as the hot temperatures continue.  If there’s even a chance that it’s going to be a long dry summer, then we need to get into good habits now.”

Birmingham charity, Suited for Success, is appealing for votes after reaching the finals of the National Lottery Awards – the annual search for the UK’s favourite National Lottery-funded projects.

Suited for Success is competing in the Best Education Project category.  The project beat off stiff competition from over 700 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards, which celebrate the inspirational people and projects who do extraordinary things with National Lottery funding.

The project with the most votes will be crowned the winner and receive a £5,000 cash prize to spend on their project, an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy and attend a star-studded glittering awards ceremony to be broadcast on BBC One on 26 September 2018.

First impressions count. Suited for Success is a charity which provides essential moral support along with free second-hand suits and workwear to help unemployed men and women make a great first impression in a job interview that could change their life.

Managing director, Patricia White, says winning a prestigious National Lottery Award and having their work showcased on national television would be an honour:

 “To be able to provide job interview presentation skills and FREE interview outfits to those who have experienced long-term unemployment, have a history of offending, drug abuse, homelessness, poverty and other life challenges is hugely rewarding.

“We’re delighted that our work on building self-esteem and confidence to help the people who need it most into employment has been recognised, and we can’t wait to push Suited for Success for the Best Education Project.”

“We’re really looking forward to the campaign and promoting our work and hope that everyone can get behind us for the National Lottery Awards!”

Musician, Activist and National Lottery Awards Ambassador, Professor Green, says: “It’s thanks to National Lottery players, who raise over £30 million each week for good causes, that extraordinary projects like those in the finals of the National Lottery Awards are possible.

“Suited for Success is doing an incredible job for the benefit of its local community and the work they do is hugely impressive. So what are you waiting for? Give them your support and get voting!”

With a mini-heatwave predicted which could see temperatures match the hottest day of the year so far, drivers are being urged to recognise the dangers of driving while dehydrated during the upcoming weekend and summer months, as Brits are faced with a scorching heat wave and increasing temperatures on the roads.

Research conducted by leading vehicle leasing company, Leasing Options, revealed that more than two in three (67%) UK drivers fail to recognise major symptoms of dehydration, including slower reaction times, loss of focus and muscle cramps, potentially putting themselves and others at risk behind the wheel.

With driver errors accounting for 68% of all vehicle crashes in the UK¹, drivers are being urged to take care and ensure they are adequately hydrated before every journey.

Health authorities recommend drinking around two litres of water a day³, but Leasing Options found that 37% of those surveyed are only drinking one litre of water a day, with 18% drinking less than one litre a day.

The results of the Leasing Options survey also suggested that men are more aware of the risks involved than women, with 62% of male drivers admitting to being aware in comparison to 55% of female drivers.

Overall, 84% of drivers think drink driving is more dangerous than dehydrated driving, despite a study conducted by Loughborough University⁴ revealing that mild dehydration is equivalent to being over the drink driving limit with regard to its impact on driver errors.

Iain Temperton, Director of Communications at Road Safety GB, said: “Before you start a journey you should make sure your vehicle is prepared but, just as importantly, you should ensure that you are ready and fit to drive. Driving on our ever more congested network is a task that requires full concentration. Making sure you are fully hydrated is a vital part of that process; the safety of vulnerable road users around you depends upon it.”

Mike Thompson, Sales & Marketing Director at Leasing Options, said: “At Leasing Options we pride ourselves on our safety measures and we think British drivers need to be more aware of the risks and symptoms of dehydrated driving during the hot Bank Holiday and summer weather to make our roads a safer place.

“The hot weather can sometimes take us by surprise in Britain. Drivers may not think drinking an extra glass of water before leaving the house can affect their driving abilities, but it could decrease chances of an accident.”

Staff bringing their dogs in the workplace is a huge part of the working culture at Fish4Dogs, a premium pet food business based in Rushock, Worcestershire.

The company, an official sponsor of the 2018 event Bring Your Dog To Work Day, has a dog-friendly office policy in place all-year-round.

Every lunchtime, the full ensemble of staff and their dogs step out together to exercise and socialise… both dogs and their humans!

To support 2018’s annual event #BringYourDogToWorkDay, which was founded by HOWND five years ago, on today’s lunchtime stroll all staff sported ‘tour’ T-shirts with the name of their canine colleagues in a bid to raise awareness of the charity event, which this year is raising funds for All Dogs Matters.

Fish4Dogs, which has recently increased in staff from 30 to 42 employees at its head office in Rushock, Worcestershire, has allowed staff to bring their dogs into the office since it established 12 years ago and it has developed policy and processes to ensure that all four-legged companions are happily accommodated and their welfare considered during the day. Dogs really are at the heart of Fish4Dogs.

Research has identified that having dogs in the workplace can have positive benefits for employee productivity and wellbeing – including reducing stress levels in the workplace, increased job satisfaction, team co-operation and morale. The company has enjoyed rapid growth in recent years, with turnover increasing six-fold in just eight years. With a substantially lower than average staff turnover, Fish4Dogs are sticking by their dog policy!

Health drinks brand WOW, has partnered with LGBT+ charity for young people, Just Like Us, to raise awareness for Pride month with a series of on and off-bottle activations.

The London start-up has created circle stickers atop the lids of its drinks, baring rainbow coloured versions of the brand's logo and the message “Pride Month 2018.” Available now until mid-July, the Pride sticker bottles will be available in all of WOW's stockists, including Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Boots, Co-op, Ocado and many more.

WOW will hand out limited edition cardboard rainbow glasses, temporary tattoos and other WOW merchandise throughout London, with all proceeds going towards Just Like Us. The campaign also extends to social media, encouraging the public to share pictures of their Pride themed WOW merchandise on Instagram or Twitter using the tag @drink.wow and hashtag #Pride2018. In response, WOW pledge to donate 50p to Just Like Us for each photo.

The funds raised will go towards the award-winning charity's efforts to support LGBT+ young people. Just Like Us helps LGBT+ young people to lead awesome lives by empowering young people to champion LGBT+ equality at school and work. The charity trains LGBT+ university students to share their own stories with secondary school pupils to make sure they hear powerful and positive messages from others who have been through similar experiences. The charity has previously been supported by the UK Prime Minister, singer Elton John and his husband David Furnish.

Tim Ramsey, Chef Executive at Just Like Us said: “We are delighted to be partnering with WOW for this year's Pride month. The support they are providing will make an amazing difference to lives of schoolchildren.”

WOW's French and Austrian bottles will also sport translated versions of the stickers. In France, a percentage of donations will also go towards Le Refuge, a charity which provides shelter and support to young adults victims of homophobia and transphobia. The Pride themed WOW merchandise will also be given out across Paris.

WOW Founder, Oliver Dickinson, said: “At WOW, we are all about living life in technicolour. Seeing life with your WOW glasses on means not distinguishing between gender and only seeing unconditional love. Celebrating diversity and inclusion is very close to our hearts so our decision to fundraise with our limited edition packaging was a no brainer. Charities such as Just Like Us and Le Refuge put in monumental amounts of hard work to help LGBT+ communities and deserve recognition and funds. We are thrilled and extremely proud to be supporting these charities and celebrating equality for people of all sexual and gender preference.”

It’s hotting up again across the Severn Trent region, with the forecasters reckoning it could be another fortnight of sun and high temperatures.

And that means Severn Trent is asking its customers to be a bit more ‘water wise’ and to think about the water they’re using whether for washing the car or for gardening.

Doug Clarke, water efficiency manager at Severn Trent, said: “We all want to keep our gardens looking their best and now is the time that people will be planting bedding plants and seedlings.  These can take a lot of watering in, and the biggest temptation is to get the hosepipe or sprinkler out and leave it running.  But this can use as much as 1,000 litres of drinking water in just one hour. To put it in perspective, that’s more water than a family of four would normally use in a whole day!

“We’re also urging gardeners not to worry about the health of their lawns just yet – in fact, watering established lawns is not only unnecessary, but can cause many common lawn problems.  Watering encourages shallow rooting, which in turn means the lawn is more at risk in dry conditions.  So once you start watering, you can’t stop.

“When we do get a shower or two, and no doubt we will – the warm weather never seems to last long - that’s probably all your garden needs.  And it’s also the perfect time to collect April showers in a water butt, that way you can keep the garden watered without using water from the tap, and save money too!”

It’s been over 20 years since Severn Trent last had a hosepipe ban in place and while the company is confident it has enough supply to meet demand, it's still encouraging customers to save what they can.

Doug continues: “Our reservoirs and other water sources are in a healthy position and looking good for the summer ahead.

“Now, we’re asking our customers not to be complacent and to think about being ‘water wise’ in whatever they do.  If there’s even a chance that it’s going to be a long dry summer, then we need to get into good habits now.”

Other handy tips, all of which are available at https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-supply/hot-weather-tips/ include:

·         Keep hydrated;

·         Have a shower rather than a bath;

·         Use a bucket and sponge rather than a hose to clean your car;

·         Look for leaking loos and get them fixed; and

·         Turn off taps when not in use.