Help us fight fuel poverty
We are Western Power Distribution (WPD), the electricity distribution network operator for the South West, South Wales and the Midlands. This winter we are launching our new ‘Community Matters’ scheme, a half-a-million pound fuel poverty fund to help families heat their homes this winter.
Tackling fuel poverty is a crucial and immediate priority for us, and as a result, we are calling on local charities, councils and community groups across our network to apply for grants worth up to £10,000 in order to aid their fuel poverty support activities as we enter what will be a challenging winter for many. It is expected that more than 100 grassroots organisations, across our regions, will be supported via the scheme.
The announcement follows the successful ‘In This Together – Community Matters’ fund, which throughout the COVID-19 pandemic received fantastic support from many MPs and distributed funds to a wide range of charities and community organisations. Separately over the past two years, we have worked with partners to deliver £20 million of direct savings for over 40,000 customers struggling to pay their bills. The new scheme is the first phase of our annual £1 million community fund, which is provided entirely by the company’s shareholders.
To help guide applications, examples of the types of support we’d consider eligible for the fund are:
- Energy tariff/switching advice
- Energy efficiency guidance and products: Insulation installations, updating heating systems
- Grant/discount scheme advice
- Innovation/other to be detailed and impact clearly specified and demonstrated
Applications for the ‘Community Matters Fund’ are welcome from registered charities, community groups and councils within our distribution network area. The application form is available from our website https://www.westernpower.co.uk/community-matters-fund. We are welcoming applications up to £10,000 but no funding request is too small.
The closing date for submissions is Monday 22nd November 2021.
Look out for us on social media #WPDCommunityFund.