WPD supports charities in Devon with £500,000 fund to tackle loneliness and isolation

Western Power Distribution (WPD) is pledging to support its most vulnerable customers in Devon with grants from its Community Matters Fund ahead of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week. The upcoming awareness week (9-15 May) aims to tackle loneliness, particularly in the wake of the pandemic – which has left many people from all walks of life reporting feelings of isolation.

To provide much needed support for the local organisations tackling these vital issues, WPD is calling on charities, councils and community groups in the South West to apply for grants of up to £10,000, with £500,000 being earmarked for good causes to support mental wellbeing.

This is the latest round of grants from WPD’s annual £1 million Community Matters Fund, which has already seen the electricity distributor support more than 100 grassroots organisations with crucial fuel poverty grants, including more than 15 good causes in the South West.

Alison Sleightholm, WPD’s Resources & External Affairs Director, said: “Covid-19 has had a significant impact on people’s mental health over the past two years, and lockdowns and social distancing measures have undoubtedly led to feelings of loneliness and isolation. We are committed to taking the lead on this emerging issue, helping provide crucial interventions and preventing further increases in mental health issues.”

She continued: “WPD is looking to support and partner with community groups and organisations in the South West to achieve positive change. With loneliness and tackling social exclusion as the core topic, we open the doors to funding applications from all generational and diverse community groups and organisations.”

The application window for funding is open until Sunday 24th April. To help guide applications, examples of the types of project the fund will consider supporting are:

✔ Digital skills and inclusion projects

✔ Social inclusion and connectedness projects

✔ Mental health interventions

✔ Employability skills

✔ Projects increasing community access to outside space

✔ Inter-generational support projects

✔ Befriending services

✔ Innovative solutions to combating loneliness.

For more information and to apply, please visit: www.westernpower.co.uk/community-matters-fund. Follow the fund on social media via #WPDCommunityFund