14 November 2012

Costain has donated over £22,000 to Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Raising the Roof appeal, which will go towards upgrading their world renowned Neuroscience Centre.

Earlier this year, Costain instigated an Enhanced Transfer Value offer and a Pension Increase Exchange offer to members of The Costain Pension Scheme.

This was aimed at offering scheme members greater choice and flexibility regarding their pension entitlement and Costain the opportunity to reduce the overall pension liabilities and risk remaining within the scheme.

Costain considered it important that all members fully understood the offer and sought financial advice.  The Company decided to make a donation of £10 to Great Ormond Street Hospital for each member who contacted the appointed independent financial advisor, Oval Financial Services Limited. During the offer period, 2,246 members contacted Oval.

Costain’s Martin Hunter, Sarah Barton and Lisa Bravery presented a cheque to Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Christina Panayiotou.

Raising the Roof will help fund the hospital’s new J N and Phyllis Somers Neurosciences Centre which is part of the hospital’s major redevelopment programme. Since its launch in January 2010, the appeal has raised over £2million.

Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Neurosciences department provides care for children with complex neurological disorders, with conditions affecting the central nervous system such as epilepsy, craniofacial disorders and cancers. It is the largest centre for children needing brain surgery and among the largest epilepsy surgery centres in Europe.

The J N and Phyllis Somers Neurosciences Centre combines the most comprehensive clinical services in the UK with world-class pioneering research and training. The centre’s Koala Ward, which opened in June, currently has 24 beds and the hospital has plans to increase capacity by adding 10 further beds in 2016.

The donation is in line with Costain Cares, the Company’s long-term operational initiative to address the growing needs of its stakeholders, including its shareholders and the communities it serves, through greater corporate responsibility.

“We are delighted to have this opportunity to be able to donate to Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Raising the Roof appeal. The hospital’s J N and Phyllis Somers Neurosciences Centre  offers world-class treatment to around 8,000 children from all around the world and this appeal will help the unit to expand its capacity and continue its excellent work,” said Catherine Warbrick, Costain’s Corporate Responsibility Director.

Commenting, Great Ormond Street’s Christina Panayiotou, added: “On behalf of everyone at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, we would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Costain for their incredibly generous donation. It will help to make such a huge difference to the Neurosciences team and crucially to our patients and their families.”

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