8 utility networks have teamed up to give a £500,000 boost to local community foundations during the coronavirus pandemic.
UK Power Networks, SGN, Southern Water, Thames Water, Anglian Water, Affinity Water, SES Water and South East Water are all collaborating on a regional initiative looking out for their local communities as part of their ongoing work to help people living in vulnerable circumstances.
The firms that keep the lights on, taps running and gas flowing, employ thousands of key workers to maintain reliable supplies, who are working hard to ensure the country keeps going during these unprecedented times.
Working together, they are supporting local community foundations to make sure funding quickly gets to the frontline, where it can make the most impact in boosting community resilience, including local foodbanks, volunteer centres, food delivery services and outreach programmes for those at risk of isolation.
The rapid funding will reach local charities supported by community foundations across Bedfordshire and Luton, Cambridgeshire, Surrey, Essex, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk, Sussex, London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Swindon, Dorset, southern Scotland, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and Milton Keynes.
A total of £23,000 has been donated by Southern Water to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation.
Kerry Potter, consumer vulnerability manager, who chairs the Utility Networks Partnership, said:
“In this difficult time for the communities we serve, this is one way we can provide practical help and support to make a real difference to the lives of the most vulnerable in our communities. We are proud to work with our regional partners in the industry to support the community foundations, through this fund we are ensuring individuals suffering hardship as a result of the coronavirus outbreak are helped.”
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Rosemary Macdonald, Interim CEO of UK Community Foundations, said:
“This extraordinarily generous donation will enable community foundations to reach the people who most need assistance throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Each community foundation has an in-depth understanding of their local area, what the priority needs are and how best to address these issues, so they can ensure the funding goes where it is most needed and can make the most impact.”
You can find your local community foundation through UK Community Foundations – https://www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/our-network.
Cut the water bills for ALL. No just the scroungers aka ‘vulnerable’ who have to use more water for hand washing, showering more often, washing clothes more often etc.
Those of us working have to change our clothes as soon as we get in, those on benefit, can crawl out of bed, sit around all day and have LESS need for more help, as they get their rent paid, council tax paid, never bother to insure their car or tax it, don’t have to put anything by for home insurance or repairs to home or boiler etc.
All they need cash for is to eat, buy dope, alcohol, and sky +++ etc.
Their numerous clones are all paid for by the state, so it is only poor priorities which make them go to the food bank etc.
The world doesn’t own them a living, nor their delightful next generation either.
Not all who need the food bank are the sort you describe, but do agree that many are, and that we all need to use more water now, not just a small section of nere do wells who ‘always’ ensure that they are in debt, whether in work, out of work, if they have just made a few K selling dope, or even won the lottery, would STILL be skint within a short while, as wasters, yet sly, always KNOWING others will take pity and bail them out.
So yes, I think it far better for water bills to be cut for all this year, it would stop resentment and allow people to relax a little more when taking more showers etc.
Well said!
I have to say I agree.
Unfortunately these days when people talk about ‘those in need or low incomes’ they usually almost always are referring to those on Universal Credit plus multiple others “living off the state”.
Please however remember that while some people are furloughed from work, the vast majority will only be receiving 80% of their normal pay, and then that is taxed.
There are many people, not only on the Island, who depend on the holiday leisure and accommodation industries for seasonal employment, and a LARGE number of these people will not have been employed yet as it was only just coming to the start of the season.
Those on Benefits have also been given extra funding for a year to supplement their incomes, ostensibly to enable them to be able to buy extra food when the stock-piling was going on. Two months extra perhaps, but a whole year!?
There are many “employed” people now on much reduced incomes who will not benefit from this beneficence, so, please remember there are others who are in difficulties too. These days it is not easy to save for the rainy day like it used to be possible to.
Obviously there are elderly and infirm in need, but for once, can we make sure that the benefits of this generosity really do reach people who need it, not just the few.