The Footprint Trust has recently celebrated its 19th year in existence and at the Annual General Meeting, the charity reported that it had just been through its busiest year to date.
The charity was set up in 2002 to reduce the ecological footprint of the Isle of Wight and to promote sustainable living. The Trust was born out of a desire to take action to respond to the ‘Ecological Footprint Analysis of the Isle of Wight’, published in 1999. In practical terms, the charity particularly helps those in fuel poverty by promoting energy and water efficiency which in turn cuts CO2 emissions.
During the course of the last financial year, over 1,400 people benefitted from guidance on reducing energy and water use and keeping utility bills down with an average saving of £277 per household. A total of 700,000 kilowatt hours of energy have been saved with a cut of around 169 tonnes in CO2 emissions.
The Footprint Trust conducted over 350 phone visits and trained over 160 frontline workers in helping those in fuel poverty.
Ray Harrington-Vail, General Manager, has said:
“This year saw our busiest winter since the Trust was launched. Our service to the fuel poor was in great demand. An Institute for Fiscal Studies report in June 2020 highlighted that the Isle of Wight would be one of the hardest hit areas of England, due to the economical downturn caused by the Covid pandemic, affecting health, jobs and families.”
To find out more about the Trust’s work on the Isle of Wight visit their website – www.footprint-trust.co.uk – or for assistance or guidance on energy matters call them on 01983 822282.
