A charity supporting the Isle of Wight’s most disadvantaged community can stock up on a week’s supply without reaching into its own pockets, thanks to a generous donation.
The Utilita Energy Hub in Newport High Street held an Easter Raffle last month, raising more than £144.
Donated all proceeds to Pan Together
Energy Experts, Andrew Owers and Dan Codling Da Piedade, had agreed to donate all proceeds to Pan Together – an organisation that provides a community hub for the residents of East Newport.
Little did the pair know that Utilita Giving, the company’s charity arm, would double the amount they had raised, bringing the total to just under £300.
Thomson: Really grateful to Utilita for this kind and generous donation
Rachel Thomson, Pan Together’s Community Centre Manager, said,
“We are really grateful to Utilita for this kind and generous donation. The charity’s community support and anti-poverty services are, sadly, increasingly essential when the cost of living crisis is biting so hard for so many.
“This funding will help us to continue to provide stock for the Pan Community Larder, which is open 12 noon to 3 pm each Tuesday and Friday for fresh, frozen, refrigerated, tinned and dried food and other household essentials for residents of Pan, Pan Meadows, Barton and Fairlee. Membership is free.
“Weekly access is £5 for two carrier bags of goods per local household, which visitors choose for themselves. No-one needs a referral.”
Isle of Wight’s most disadvantaged area
According to September 2019’s Indices of Deprivation, East Newport includes the Isle of Wight’s most disadvantaged area, ranked at 5.8 per cent in England’s most deprived neighbourhoods.
To this community, Pan Together offers:
- a café which provides freshly-prepared wholesome food at affordable prices whilst also acting as a social hub for the neighbourhood;
- an IT learning suite with free Wi-fi and eight computer stations;
- two community rooms;
- a training kitchen with six fully-functioning work stations (including one accessible for wheelchair users); and
- an outside area for growing produce.
“It was the absolute least we could do”
Andrew Owers and Dan Codling Da Piedade, Energy Experts at Utilita’s Isle of Wight Energy Hub, said,
“Not so long ago, you’d struggle to find a foodbank on the Island. Now, they mostly have queues out the door as times continue to get tougher.
“We are lucky to have people like Rachel and her team, who work tirelessly to provide lifeline support for those who need it most.
“Using our Easter Raffle as a way to support them was the absolute least we could do, and we hope to work closely with Pan Together for some time to come.”
On hand to speak with members of the public
The Utilita Energy Hub in Newport High Street is open six days a week, 9am to 5.30pm.
Here, a team of dedicated Energy Experts are on hand to speak with members of the public – not just Utilita customers – on how they can make free and simple behaviour changes at home to save hundreds on their energy bills.
Utilita’s other Energy Hubs can be found in Blackburn, Gosport, Derby, Leicester, Leith, West Bromwich, Southampton, Sheffield and Hartlepool.
News shared by Sam on behalf of Utilita. Ed
