From indoors to outdoors, SSEN Transmission lends a hand at St Madoes
A blog by Shaun Hodge, Product Owner at SSEN Transmission
At SSEN Transmission, we have long been committed to supporting the communities where we live and work, and this week was a shining example of that commitment. Over two dedicated volunteering days, our colleagues spent time at the Madoch Centre in St Madoes, helping with practical tasks that will benefit the centre and its visitors for months to come.
Alongside my day job working on digital projects, I’ve recently teamed up with Kate Conlan from our Sustainability Team to help strengthen our volunteering efforts. Back in the Spring, we launched a new feature on our website that allows local community groups and charities to request volunteering support directly from us - making it easier than ever for them to request our help.
Image (left to right): Melissa, Paige, Dawn, Holly, Shaun, Suzanne pictured at the volunteering day at the Madoch Centre.
When we were reviewing requests we’d received, one stood out immediately: the Madoch Centre. Not only is the work they do incredibly important for the local community, but for me, it was personal as I grew up in the Carse of Gowrie, so I couldn’t let the opportunity to give back and get stuck in, pass us by!
The Madoch Centre is a vibrant and much-loved community hub, offering a wide range of activities and services. From warm spaces, café meet-ups, and fitness classes to youth groups, sports sessions, support services, and intergenerational activities, the centre plays a crucial role in tackling isolation, creating opportunities, and strengthening connections across the local community.
Our first volunteering day focused on indoor support. Teams from our stakeholder, IT, and project departments rolled up their sleeves to carry out a comprehensive deep clean across the centre. Special attention was given to the café and children’s soft play areas, where mats were lifted and every surface received a thorough refresh. Windows, sills, flooring, and hoovering were all completed, leaving the centre sparkling and ready to welcome families and groups.
On the second day, our colleagues tackled the outdoor areas. Tasks included tree cutting, strimming, weeding, clearing moss from patio cracks, raking and levelling stones, sweeping the car park, washing windowsills, and taking rubbish to the recycling centre. Together, these efforts transformed the gardens and outdoor spaces, making them safer, more accessible, and even more inviting for everyone who visits the centre.
As part of the volunteering effort, our Tealing to Westfield 400kV Reconductoring project team have arranged for two brand-new picnic benches to be placed in the grounds of the centre, replacing the existing benches which were beyond repair. Arrangements are now underway - a lasting contribution that will give visitors a welcoming place to sit, relax, and enjoy the centre’s outdoor spaces for years to come.
Volunteering so close to home - just ten minutes from our Perth head office - was especially rewarding. These days are a chance for our employees to give back to the communities around us while making a visible, lasting difference.
Our volunteering programme is just one-way our employees can get involved locally. By offering time, skills, and energy, our colleagues help support community organisations, tackle practical challenges, and create spaces that people can enjoy and benefit from.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Anthea from the Madoch Centre for inviting us to get involved and for her warm welcome throughout both days. Supporting local communities matters as much as volunteering further afield, and these experiences demonstrate the positive impact that collaborative effort can achieve. Thank you to all our colleagues who took part in the volunteering days, too! We couldn’t have done it without you.
Image: Our colleagues are ready to support on their volunteering opportunities.
Get started with volunteering
If you’re a community group or charity in our network area in the north of Scotland, we would love to hear from you. It only takes a couple of minutes to find out more about our volunteering opportunities and register your interest: https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/volunteering
Please note, as our team works on a voluntary basis, it may take us some time to coordinate our people and match them with opportunities. We kindly ask for your patience as we work to keep up with volunteering demand.