The trustees of The Footprint Trust have praised their staff for assisting over 1,700 vulnerable ‘fuel poor’ Islanders during the last 12 months, through more effective use of energy in their homes.
The recent Annual General Meeting of the charity also reported that a total of £114,000 had been saved by clients thanks to the expert guidance of staff, which also lead to huge reductions in CO2.
In total, some 340 households were visited in 2019/20. People were given tailored guidance and information on the correct use of appliances and heating systems, grants for insulation and white goods, along with discounts on utilities and help with switching suppliers. Frontline worker training was provided to staff and volunteers from other organisations to bring about greater understanding of fuel poverty on the Island. Monergy workshops were also held in a number of venues giving people skills to cut their bills.
The charity already holds the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for charities, for their pioneering work in the community. This year the Trust won the 2020 Vulnerable Customer Support Campaigner of the Year accolade in the regional Energy Efficiency Awards.
The success of the charity’s work was however tinged with some sadness with the loss of their highly regarded colleague Helen Williams. Helen was the friendly voice giving guidance over the phone to clients and giving support and training to staff and sharing her many years of experience in her many caring roles.
Helen faced her cancer diagnosis with tenacity, humour and unblinking positivity. As she became more unwell, she trained others to take over her many roles within the charity. She gradually worked fewer hours until finally she was admitted to the hospice for the last time. She died in March 2020, aged 59.
The meeting thanked the Daisie Rich Trust and the town, parish and community councils which support the Trust’s work. Wight Community Energy assisted with funding home energy visits, the People’s Postcode Trust contributed towards staff and other core costs. SSE Networks Resilient Communities Fund funding expanded work in remote areas of the Island affected by power outages and rural isolation. The Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme commenced funding fuel poverty prevention and relief through outreach, training and practical guidance.
The Trustees also expressed thanks to the many individuals who have made donations which have helped fund extra help to many vulnerable local people, further assisted by the Hampshire & IW Community Foundation. Many other national charitable bodies also gave grants, which are listed in the annual accounts.
Anyone with concerns about their utility bills can contact The Footprint Trust by email [email protected] or by phone 01983 822282.
