Wrexham’s Chariotts receives share of community fund to support its services

More than 890 of the most vulnerable people in communities in the region are set to benefit after Wales & West Utilities announced successful applicants to its Safe and Warm Fund.

The gas emergency and pipeline service established the fund in June and put out a call to action to local charities and bodies affected by the coronavirus pandemic to apply for support.

With over 400 applications in a three-week period, five organisations from across north Wales have been selected to share in over £13,000 of funding.

They include North Wales Domestic Abuse Safety Unit, 1st Abergele Scouts, Menter y Plu, Grwp Cymunedol Caru Amlwch and Chariotts.

Wrexham’s Chariotts successfully applied for a £3,000 slice of the fund to help support its services.

George Greenshields, Charity Co-ordinator for Chariotts, said: “We have over 1,100 members from across the Wrexham area who we support with transport services to benefit them socially, like taking them out shopping, to visit friends and family or attend medical appointments,

“When Covid19 hit, we couldn’t continue, and we knew we needed to adapt our services so we could still support the people who rely on us.

“This money from Wales & West Utilities has made a significant contribution to enable us to kit out our vehicles with the appropriate screens, procure specialist cleaning equipment, whilst also providing PPE for our drivers, so our members can still benefit from our services – in a safe and appropriate way.

“On behalf of everyone that uses our services I’d like to thank Wales & West Utilities for their assistance in helping us to adapt.”

Wales & West Utilities set up the Safe and Warm Fund to help organisations and charities directly respond to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The gas emergency and pipeline service has been working hard throughout the pandemic to make sure people are kept safe and warm in their homes and opened the fund to help others in communities across Wales and the south west of England do the same.

Wales & West Utilities Chief Executive, Graham Edwards, added: “The Safe and Warm Fund was designed to directly help those working in communities, targeting support at those who need it most.

“We are delighted that the fund will now support so many organisations across our operating area: from domestic abuse support units to volunteer transport services for disabled people.

“The fund will go some way to helping organisations and local communities as they begin to recover from Coronavirus.

“Seeing communities come together to face the challenge of Coronavirus has been fantastic – and everyone at Wales & West Utilities is excited to see these projects come to life and how they will make a positive impact on the lives of people most in need.”