WPD helps customers keep warm this Christmas with fuel poverty grants to South West charities

This festive season, Western Power Distribution (WPD) is supporting its vulnerable customers across the South West, by issuing £87,000 of fuel poverty grants from its ‘Community Matters’ fund to local charities and organisations.

Amongst the beneficiaries announced today is Kingswear Parish Council, which has been awarded £10,000 for a ground-breaking project to support households with inefficient insulation as we head into a cold winter period. With the funds, Kingswear Parish Council will be provide vital support for families in the region to make properties more energy efficient, helping them to save money on bills and heat their homes more effectively.

Also benefitting from the fund is 3SG in Bath, which will use its £6,755 grant to deliver vital workshops to equip 35 local charities with the skills to support people experiencing fuel poverty. As we face a challenging winter ahead, initiatives like this will be crucial to ensuring communities are able to remain safe and warm – with local support when they need it most.

Alison Sleightholm, WPD’s Resources & External Affairs Director, said: “It’s great to see the first of our grants being distributed to organisations and charities across the South West which are offering direct help to the people who need it most this winter. Their work will make a vital difference, supporting our most vulnerable customers and making a positive impact in the communities we serve.

“Tackling fuel poverty is a crucial and immediate priority for WPD, as vulnerable customers in the region are expected to experience hardship this year. This winter’s community funding from WPD is an extension of our wide-ranging fuel poverty programme, supporting customers who are struggling to pay their bills.”

Sue Balsdon from Kingswear Parish Council said: “The grant from Western Power Distribution Communities Matters Fund will enable Kingswear Parish Sustainable Energy Project to support those householders most in need of improving their energy efficiency with the cost of improvements.”

James Carlin, Director at 3SG, commented “This generous funding from West Power Distribution will make a crucial difference to people suffering from fuel poverty in our area. It will provide much needed skills to 35 charities that are working on the front line of this important issue of fuel poverty in Bath and North East Somerset.”

WPD is the UK’s largest electricity distributor, responsible for delivering power to homes, businesses and vital services through its lines and cables in the South West. Its ‘Community Matters’ fund is paid for by the company’s shareholders and distributes £1 million a year.

For more information please visit www.westernpower.co.uk/community-matters-fund. Follow the fund on social media via #WPDCommunityFund