BRIGHTLY-DRESSED volunteers from Thames Water showed their support for the LGBT+ community at Reading Pride festival, while spreading the message of water efficiency at the same time.

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Staff members, many wearing vibrant outfits and waving rainbow flags, handed out free tap water at the event on Saturday (August 31).

Festival-goers had been encouraged to bring their own reusable bottles to the celebration at King’s Meadow and top up at refill points set up by Thames Water, cutting down on single-use plastic waste in the process.

There were also dog water bowls for four-legged guests on the day.

Volunteers gave out compostable cups to those without their own bottles and also gave away items including flags, badges and wristbands in exchange for charity donations.

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Thames Water’s technical coordinator Lex Pitfield, who organised the company’s involvement in the event, said: “Thank you to all the volunteers from Thames Water who gave up their time to help make the day so successful.

“It was great to see you all enjoying your time on the stall, handing out water, marching in the parade and engaging with all our customers.

“For me the funniest part of the day was trying to rescue the Thames Water rubber duck from a four-legged friend who ‘borrowed’ it from the dog water bowl!”

As well as rehydrating visitors, Thames Water employees joined hundreds of people marching in the parade through St Mary’s Butts, Broad Street and Forbury Gardens before finishing at the meadow at midday.

Jenny Jones, who chairs Thames Water’s LGBT+ and allies network, said: “It was great to be part of Reading Pride, demonstrating Thames Water’s commitment to championing and supporting LGBT+ people in our workforce and our local communities.

“We loved meeting our customers, hydrating them with free tap water throughout the day and raising money for local charities.”

Thames Water, which is a Stonewall Diversity Champion, regularly supports Pride events and attended the Reading celebration as part of a series over the summer.

Volunteers from the company also handed out water at London Pride in July and Swindon & Wiltshire Pride last month, as well as marching in the parade through Swindon and sponsoring the event’s community stage.