Close calls are raised when a situation has the potential to cause an accident or incident.

The fundraising scheme, which is run across VolkerWessels UK, encourages employees to proactively report safety concerns they feel have the potential to cause personal injury, damage, or that could impact the safety of our sites, and anyone affected by our operations. Once a close call is raised, it is then reviewed, and actions are put in place to ‘close out’ the close call - removing the potential for an accident or incident.

For every close call raised across the group, VolkerWessels UK donates £1 to charity. 50% of all money raised annually is donated to the group’s nominated charity, Samaritans, whilst the other half is allocated to each of the businesses in the group - VolkerFitzpatrick, VolkerRail, VolkerStevin, VolkerHighways and VolkerLaser - in proportion to the number of close calls raised, for each to donate to a local good cause.

VolkerRail has been supporting Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice through its Close Call scheme since 2012, and to provide further support, the business also donates a further £1 for every close call which is closed out.

The hospice, which is based in North Anston near Sheffield, looks after children with life-limiting conditions across South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, North Nottinghamshire and parts of North Lincolnshire - and also supports their families.

Last year, over 35,700 close calls were raised across VolkerWessels UK, with VolkerRail employees raising 37% of these close calls.

The number of close calls raised means £17,875 will be donated to Samaritans, with a further £17,875 split across Bluebell Wood, CRASH, Save the Children, Raise Your Hands, and St Richard’s Hospice.

This year’s donation - £8,147 donated from VolkerRail, and £6,689 from VolkerWessels UK - takes the total raised for the charity, through the close call scheme; since its launch in July 2012, to over £84,000.

Stuart Webster-Spriggs, VolkerRail HSQES director, said: “VolkerRail prioritises the safety of all employees, and all stakeholders interacting on its work sites. Our close call scheme empowers our teams and creates a proactive approach to safety, which reduces the number of accidents/incidents in the workplace, as every close call reported and closed is another potential accident and incident prevented.”

“The support and facilities provided by Bluebell Wood is vitally important. These donations and our long-standing relationship with the charity helps to ensure their work continues to support families in their time of need.”

Bluebell Wood’s regional fundraiser, Eleanor Hughes, said: “The hospice’s relationship with VolkerRail continues to go from strength to strength, with employees not only fundraising for us, but also taking part in our events and volunteering within the hospice as well.

“It costs over £5m just to keep the hospice’s doors open. That is almost £14,000 every day - the same amount VolkerRail have donated to us this year alone.

“Thank you to everyone at VolkerRail and VolkerWessels UK, for your support”