Wales & West Utilities gas engineer Neil Parnell at the launch of the fund
Wales & West Utilities has launched a £50,000 community fund and is encouraging south east Wales charities and bodies affected by the coronavirus pandemic to apply for support.
The Safe and Warm Fund has been established in response to the crisis and will help communities affected by the outbreak with essential funding. The gas emergency and pipeline service has been working hard throughout the pandemic to make sure people are kept safe and warm in their homes and has opened the fund to help others do the same.
Wales & West Utilities Chief Executive, Graham Edwards, explains:
“I’m delighted to launch the Safe and Warm Fund. This £50,000 will help directly support organisations working in communities, targeting support at those who need it most.
“We’re now encouraging organisations across the area – from food banks to energy efficiency organisations, domestic abuse charities to community transport. Put simply, we want to support those on the frontline and help the most vulnerable people in the community stay safe and warm.”
Organisations and charities can apply for funding between £500 and £5,000. Applicants are encouraged to give details about how the funding will help extend its support to those most in need.
Graham continued:
“One of the most optimistic elements of this pandemic has been seeing the way in which communities have pulled together to support one another and we are hoping that this money will go some way to extending that support.”
Applications will be assessed by a panel consisting of representatives from Wales & West Utilities. For more information on the fund please visit www.wwutilities.co.uk/SafeandWarm. The closing date for applications is 6 July 2020.
Wales & West Utilities is also urging people who have received a letter from the NHS advising them to take additional measures to ‘shield’ themselves from Covid19 to consider joining the Priority Service Register (PSR). Joining it allows us energy and utility companies, to look after people who need extra support. It’s free, and you can find out more at www.wwutilities.co.uk/priority
Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5m people across the south west of England and Wales. If you smell gas, or suspect the presence of carbon monoxide, call us on 0800 111 999 straight away, and our engineers will be there to help any time of day or night. Before visiting, we’ll ask you to let us know if you or anyone in your household, is experiencing Corona virus symptoms or self-isolating. We’ll still come and help you: but our teams will take some additional precautions to keep us all safe.
