WATER workers in Huddersfield have dug deep to help children in the Third World.

Yorkshire Water staff across the region have raised a wonderful £303,000 for WaterAid, a scheme which provides vital water supplies to poor parts of Africa.

Now Dave McGlinchey, chairman of the regional WaterAid committee, has flown to Uganda to see how YW’s fundraising efforts are helping the international charity.

WaterAid provides clean water and sanitation in some of the world’s poorest countries.

The YW money was raised through various events, payroll giving and a Water Aid lottery.

Mr McGlinchey, a YW management accountant, is one of 12 representatives from water companies across the UK who have been given the opportunity to visit Uganda to see the charity in action.

Every 17 seconds a child dies because of water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, which is why the work done by WaterAid can really make a difference.

Mr McGlinchey will be spending a day with a family who have no access to clean water or sanitation facilities. They live in Masindi and the fundraisers will see the hardships the people face on a daily basis.

They will also visit a second village in the same area that is already benefiting from WaterAid’s involvement.

The representatives will be able to join in with some of the work under way by helping to build latrines.

WaterAid is paying for work to build the necessary amenities and also teaching local people how to build, operate and maintain the wells, water pumps, and latrines.

Uganda is a land-locked country in east Africa with a population of almost 26m.

Some 40% do not have access to clean water and 57% do not have a safe place to go to the toilet.

Mr McGlinchey said: “I have been very impressed by WaterAid’s commitment to enabling people to help themselves in improving their water supply and sanitation.

“Being invited to see this work in action is a great privilege.

“As more and more people are leaving rural areas the pressures on cities throughout the world are immense.

“On our visit we will be visiting city slums to see how the sheer volume of people makes the need for decent toilet facilities all the more important.

“At 48 years old I have already reached the life expectancy of a man in Uganda. That really makes you think.”