DEMENTIA patients recently got to visit Glass Futures, some of which used to work for Pilkington glass or have ties to the glass industry.

Saints Community Development Foundation (SCDF), the independent charitable trust of St Helens RFC, provides a programme of activities for people with dementia and the associated ‘In It Together’ initiative was launched to support younger adults suffering from early set stage of the condition.

“With an estimated 119 local people between the ages of 18 and 50 diagnosed with early on-set dementia in St Helens, we were very pleased to welcome members of ‘In It Together’ to Glass Futures, many of whom worked previously for local businesses such as Pilkington (a member of the NSG Group) or had family ties to the local glass industry,” commented Patrick Noone, Site Operations Manager at Glass Futures.

Glass Futures demonstrated to the group how an industrial scale 30 tonnes per day pilot furnace currently being installed at the Innovation Centre is paving the way for glass decarbonisation in line with the UK government's net zero target of 2050. With a high percentage of Glass Futures’ 60-strong workforce being from St Helens, visitors also learned more about the organisation’s contribution to the local community and plans to create a further 100 jobs in the region.

St Helens Star:

“The group really liked getting close to the furnace and the feedback we received was excellent. Alongside SCDF, we are giving back to St Helens and look forward to continuing the collaboration with ‘In It Together’ as well as working with many other aspects of the community to further increase our input to the local area. The more we contribute to St Helens, the more the town can develop,” added Mr Noone.

Brad Billsborough, Project Manager at SCDF, added: “In It Together has the aim of using Saints and the town as a way of triggering memories and instigating discussion. We were taken on a great tour of Glass Futures and it’s going to be amazing when completed. We are looking forward to going back when the furnace is up and running”.