A North Sea oil and gas firm has joined forces with the Press and Journal to back its latest campaign to support community groups.
Nexen Petroleum has made a generous donation towards the provision of a community minibus which will be won by a lucky school group, team or club in the Press and Journal circulation area in September.
Archie Kennedy, managing director of Nexen Petroleum UK said: “Nexen Petroleum UK is delighted to sponsor this competition and think it is a fantastic way to support local groups.
“Nexen believes these are a vital part of the fabric of our communities and enrich people’s lives. Transport can be a difficulty and owning your own bus, will have long-lasting benefits for the winning community group.”
The support is the latest effort in the firm’s commitment to engaging with the local community.
Last year Nexen donated £90,000 to support the development of the new lifeboat station at Stonehaven after the Maritime Rescue Institute (MRI) was forced to close due to severe storm damage in 2013.
The busy town and harbour of Stonehaven had been without a lifeboat search and rescue service for over a year following the storms, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) was pleased to be beneficiary of Nexen’s community investment programme.
The group has also given a significant funding boost to the north-east charity, Mental Health Aberdeen, to support vital youth counselling services in the area.
The charity’s ACIS Youth service was delighted to receive £30,000 from Nexen to enable it to continue its vital work in the community.
For Nexen it represented the second tranche of money, having gifted £45,000 last year, as part of the company’s commitment to the region’s charitable sector.
Damian Bates, editor-in-chief of the Press and Journal, said: “Nexen’s support of our minibus competition just shows that the company’s heart is right where it should be — right in the centre of its community.
“This fantastic 17-seat bus will be of invaluable use to a community group, a team or a club that gets involved and wins the prize.
“The Press and Journal launched this scheme to give something back to community groups in our huge circulation areas, and we are so pleased that Nexen has decided to join us in doing this.”
Last year the company achieved first oil on its £2billion Golden Eagle project, expected to hit peak production of 70,000 barrels of oil a day next year.
Nexen also operates the Buzzard North Sea field, along with the Ettrick and Blackbird fields, and the Scott platform serving the Scott, Telford and Rochelle fields.