£240,000 committed to help food banks respond to coronavirus

Cadent Foundation, a new charitable foundation funded by the UK’s biggest gas network, has committed £240,000 to help food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network as they seek to support people affected by coronavirus.

The fund’s advisory board agreed to fast-track a grant to the Trussell Trust, which supports more than 1,200 food bank centres. The first transfer of funds was made today (20 March).

Julia Dwyer, Director, Cadent Foundation, said:

Food banks are facing a huge challenge right now, with supplies low and many of their army of volunteers falling into categories that really must self-isolate – just at the time when the need for food bank services is greatest.

Part of the core mission of our new foundation is to help people living in vulnerable circumstances. We had to do something in response to the coronavirus. Our advisory board met on Wednesday and unanimously agreed this financial support.

Sophie Carre, Head of Corporate Partnerships, Trussell Trust, said:

It’s hard for us to say exactly what the picture will look like in the coming weeks across the UK as each food bank in our network is a local charity, run by a community for their local community, and each will be affected differently.

We’re working closely with our network to understand each food bank’s situation, offer guidance, and work out how we can best support them. We know we won’t be able to do this alone, so we are truly grateful for this support from Cadent Foundation. Please look at our website to find out more about food banks and coronavirus.

Project secured funding that helps customers unable to afford repairs or replacements for their appliances 

Cadent Foundation has awarded a grant to National Energy Action, a fuel poverty and energy efficiency charity, to support the most vulnerable with repairs or replacements to their gas appliances.
Within the gas emergency industry, Cadent’s First Call Operatives (FCOs) respond to emergencies such as, gas escapes or carbon monoxide alarms and may have to disconnect a customer’s gas supply to make the property safe.
Customer’s on a low income or in a vulnerable situation are at times unable to afford to pay for the necessary repairs or replacement works. This can put people in situations without heating, hot water and cooking facilities for an indefinite amount of time.
Having identified this, the Reactive Response scheme allows the FCOs to refer people in vulnerable households to the programme which will arrange for repairs or replacements of gas appliances free of charge.
Feedback from the scheme has been positive and have customers frequently commented on how satisfied they were with the service they had received through Reactive Response:
 
“Without your help I would be in dire straits. I wouldn’t know what to do. I appreciate the support offered to me at a very vulnerable time. Thank you.”
“I'm so grateful for your help and the expertise of the workmen who fitted the new piece of gas pipe. I would not have known who to turn to or trust without your help.”
 
For more information about National Energy Action, the charity the foundation has chosen to support and its ambition to tackle fuel poverty go to their website https://www.nea.org.uk/

We’ve granted £100,000 to Royal Voluntary Service to support communities during the pandemic

For over 80 years, Royal Voluntary Service has inspired over 2 million people across the UK to volunteer their time to support their local communities. Originally founded in 1938 as the Women’s Voluntary Services for Air Raid Precautions, it is now the largest volunteering organisation in British history.

We recognised the support Royal Voluntary Service has been providing to those who need it during the coronavirus pandemic, especially by helping the NHS launch the NHS responders scheme. 

Sam Ward, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Services, Royal Voluntary Service explains what this means, ‘Our services provide a lifeline to vulnerable older people in the community and in hospitals, but now, due to the outbreak of coronavirus in Britain, the need for our help has become even more vital. 

‘This very generous donation from the Cadent Foundation will enable us to support more vulnerable people during this crisis now and in the months to come through companionship calls, helping people access food and essential medication, delivering welfare checks and providing virtual social activities to keep people connected. We are determined that isolation shouldn’t mean coping alone.’

 
To find out more about the Royal Voluntary Service and what they are doing during this unprecedented time, visit https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/

A new scheme that offers fully funded gas central heating systems to over 1000 homes

The ‘Connected for Warmth’ scheme will offer new gas central heating systems to households that need help with their energy bills. It will also offer a free connection to the gas main for homes that are currently without gas but that can benefit from affordable heat in their homes and hot water.
The grant from the Cadent Foundation will be used to install the latest energy efficient boilers to around 1000 homes. Its aims are to reduce bills, increase comfort in non-gas households, and improve health outcomes for residents.
The scheme will run across the entire area served by Cadent, the Gas Distribution Network Operator, which reaches most of the Midlands, the East of England, North London and the North West. This will support the most vulnerable of people in these areas who are living in fuel poverty and enable them to have a warm home.
The Connected for Warmth scheme is being managed by AgilityEco and has also received the endorsement of a number of local councils.

Households can find out more by visiting www.connectedforwarmth.org.uk or by calling 0800 029 4547.