Twelve months of charity - MS3 Networks looks back over a year of charitable initiatives

The festive period is the time for goodwill. As the year comes to a close, Liz Owen-Dyce, Talent and Brand Lead at Hull-based fibre network operator MS3 Networks, reflects on twelve months of volunteering and charity initiatives that have strengthened the company’s ties to the local community.

At MS3 Networks, we believe in making a meaningful difference to the lives of people living in the Humber region — whether that is by helping to close the digital divide with fast and affordable connectivity or by giving time and money to impactful local causes. Over the past year, our team has been privileged to fundraise and volunteer for a range of charitable initiatives helping those in need across Hull, East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

Supporting sailors’ children

One of the highlights of the year has been partnering with the Sailors’ Children’s Society, a Hull-based organisation that has supported almost 50,000 children of seafarers

throughout the UK since its foundation in 1821. Hull’s status as a maritime city means the charity has historically played a key role in supporting local families living in poverty by offering welfare and clothing grants, as well as extra funds during the festive period to ensure that every child has a gift to open on Christmas Day.

With the ongoing cost of living challenges, Sailors’ Children’s Society continues to make a tangible difference to the lives of children with a parent who has served in the Royal or Merchant Navy or in the fishing fleets. At MS3, we are especially proud to support the charity’s efforts to bridge the digital divide by offering expert advice on overcoming digital poverty, as well as helping to upgrade the organisation's tech capabilities.

As part of our fundraising efforts, we recently organised a charity football tournament between local businesses, which took place at the Tigers Trust Arena in Hull on December 8. Eight teams — including fellow telecoms providers KCOM and Quickline — battled to be crowned champion, raising over £1,500 for Sailors’ Children’s Society in the process.

Earlier this year, our Technical Support Adviser, Zach Whitelam, took part in a 200-mile ‘bridge-to-bridge’ cycle challenge, which started at the Severn Bridge near Chepstow and concluded at the Humber Bridge. Raising over £1,000, Zach was recognised with an award for his contributions by HRH The Princess Royal, the charity’s patron since 2003.

Taking initiative

We encourage MS3 staff to come up with their own suggestions for charity fundraising initiatives, which allows them to interact with different members of the team while developing their organisational skills and creativity.

This ethos inspired Courtney Clark, our Streetworks Manager, to lead the streetworks team on a 34.9km sponsored walk in benefit of Sailors’ Children’s Society. In just under seven hours, the team trekked from the Hull Fibre shop in Scunthorpe town centre to MS3’s Hessle office, raising £630 in donations.

In addition to supporting our charity partner, MS3 Networks has carried out numerous other fundraising and volunteering initiatives across the Hull and Humber region this year.

For example, we recently contributed £600 to Victoria Dock Community projects to help purchase landscaping materials. Afterwards, members of the MS3 team spent two full days volunteering, assisting with everything from gravel work to putting up Christmas decorations alongside local children.

In the north of the city, MS3 donated £800 to Tommy Coyle’s annual Free School Uniform Project, helping families struggling to finance the costs associated with the start

of the school year. Members of our team also volunteered their time to help distribute the uniforms at Tommy’s boxing academy in Bransholme.

By sponsoring an RSPCA kennel for £1,500, MS3 has also helped to provide care and food for abused animals, while members of our team dedicated two days to volunteering there.

Other initiatives the team has taken part in this year include planting trees with the Hull-based sustainability charity PATT Foundation and socialising with adults living with dementia at local dementia cafes.

Looking back, we’re immensely proud of the positive impact we’ve made in the community — both through our partnership with Sailors’ Children’s Society and with a host of other charitable organisations. Our aim for the year ahead is to continue finding innovative ways to serve communities across Hull, East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.

To learn more about MS3’s community projects, visit the website