Providing in-home energy efficiency support for vulnerable people living in rural areas across Cumbria has been made easier, following a donation of a van from the Cadent Foundation to support the delivery of Green Doctor services.
Community charity Groundwork, has around 200 Green Doctors - energy efficiency advisors across the UK, delivering in-home advice and income maximisation support to vulnerable communities. The van, which equates to a £12,500 saving in transport costs, will enable Green Doctors to reach people in vulnerable situations quicker and easier - allowing them to transport the tools and materials they need to assess the levels of support required and install energy saving measures quickly into a home.
The Groundwork team operating across Cumbria supports 300 residents each year, delivering personalised advice to help individuals affected by cost-of-living and fuel poverty challenges to stay safe and warm in their homes.
Victoria Myers, a Green Doctor Project Manager working across Cumbria , commented: We are seeing more and more people struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table and with winter looming, it will only get more challenging for millions of people. The van will be vital in helping us to reach even more people, particularly those in the more isolated areas of our region who need our support.
Ranjit Blythe, Managing Director of the Cadent Foundation, added: With 21 per cent of people in the UK living in poverty after housing costs, the need for improved home efficiency is ever greater. Our long-standing partnership with Groundwork has already funded 10,000 Green Doctor consultations for people living in the most vulnerable situations - resulting in the installation of over 35,000 energy saving measures into homes.
This van donation is a gift to say thank you for all the work that Green Doctors have delivered to better the lives of the people in their communities - we hope the van makes it easier for them to reach those most in need for many years to come.
Earlier this year, the Cadent Foundation and Groundwork announced their partnership extension with a new £6 million grant which will fund 'Stay Warm, Stay Well'. The programme will enable Green Doctors - expert advisors, to deliver energy efficiency and financial advice to people impacted by fuel poverty. Over the three-year project, 14,500 consultations will take place in regions across England, with a particular focus on vulnerable households.
Find out more about Stay Warm, Stay Well here: https://www.groundwork.org.uk/stay-warm-stay-well
Additional support:
Get Energy Help: https://www.groundwork.org.uk/getenergyhelp
Request a free Green Doctor consultation: https://www.groundwork.org.uk/stay-warm-stay-well/
ENDS
Photo Caption: Georgia Courtney from the Cadent Foundation with Andy Deacon and Victoria Myers from Groundwork, and Nick Tomlinson and Ella Edwards from Bri-Stor, who re-branded the van.
About Groundwork
Groundwork is a federation of charities with a collective mission to take practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. We support communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience in order to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net-zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to healthier, happier lives for all.
