A businessman is set to fly to Uganda to witness at first hand how his company’s fundraising efforts has helped to provide clean water and sanitation to one of the world’s poorest countries.

As part of the trip, Yorkshire Water management accountant Dave McGlinchey will spend time with a family who have no access to clean water or sanitation facilities.

Visiting the rural village of Masindi he will experience and understand the hardships facing people every day.

Mr McGlinchey, from Yeadon, will then visit a different village which has benefited from the work of charity WaterAid to see the difference money raised can make.

This year alone Yorkshire Water employees and pensioners have raised £303,000 for the charity.

Mr McGlinchey, who works at the the company’s headquarters in Buttershaw, is also chairman of the regional WaterAid committee and is one of 12 representatives from water companies across the UK invited to visit Uganda to see the charity in action.

“I have been very impressed by WaterAid’s commitment to enabling people to help themselves in improving their water supply and sanitation, and being invited to see this work in action is a great privilege,” Mr McGlinchey said.

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

“On our visit we will also 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 of age I have already reached the life expectancy of a man in Uganda – that really does make you think.”

WaterAid’s work not only helps provide materials to build the necessary amenities but also transfers knowledge to communities so they can build, operate and maintain the wells, water pumps and latrines.

Forty per cent of Uganda’s 26 million population do not have access to clean water and 57 per cent have no safe place to go to the toilet.

The trip aims to show Mr McGlinchey how the money raised can make a huge difference to people’s lives.

A WaterAid spokesman said: “During his trip, Dave will get the unique opportunity to find out how WaterAid’s projects can transform the lives of the world’s poorest people.

“He’s done all sorts of things to raise money for the charity – including climbing mountains and working in the mud at Glastonbury Festival – and now he’ll have the chance to meet the beneficiaries for himself.

“We’re hoping that once Dave has seen WaterAid’s projects for himself, he’ll carry on motivating and inspiring others to help those who can’t take water for granted.”

For £15 the charity can provide someone with a lasting supply of clean water, safe sanitation and hygiene education.

For more information visit wateraid.org/uk.