THAMES Water has secured a new round of funding set aside to help customers in financial difficulty and other organisations supporting customers.
The water supplier has approved half a million pounds to be earmarked for the Thames Water Trust Fund, which sees grants given to organisations supporting Thames Water customers and those experiencing fiscal hardships.
Trustees have so far awarded a total £400,000 in grants to organisations such as Citizens Advice North Oxfordshire, East End CAB (Hackney and Tower Hamlets), Citizens Advice Hounslow, Islington’s People’s Rights, and Agnes Smith Advice Centre in Oxford.
The grants will provide support on a number of projects over the next two years.
Customers can be referred to the trust fund to help with essential household items if their circumstances suggest they would not be able to afford them.
A recent example saw a Thames Water customer representative, Rob Hanks, referring a customer in Swindon after a home visit.
He noted that the household needed a new freezer, which was delivered by the trust fund in the following weeks.
The fund, managed by Auriga Services on behalf of Thames Water, helped more than 4,000 people in the 2022/2023 period, and Thames Water says it hopes that the number will be improved with the new round of funding.
The trust was first established in 2009, designed to relieve poverty by helping those who have liability in paying water charged and experiencing hardship.
Rob Hanks, customer representative for Thames Water, said: “As a customer representative, my role is to support and advocate for customers as much as I can.
“I’m so pleased a new round of funding has been awarded to the Trust Fund which gives us the opportunity to make a difference to those customers in their everyday life.”
Linda Perham, chair of the Thames Water Trust Fund said: “The Thames Water Trust Fund Trustees are delighted and extremely grateful that Thames Water is reaffirming its long-standing commitment to supporting our vital work in helping its most vulnerable customers especially in these difficult and challenging times.”
Nina White, Director of financial customer care at Thames Water said: “The Thames Water Trust Fund is an initiative we are very proud of as part of our commitment to support customers who may be struggling.
“With the cost of living rising, we are also providing support for 53,000 additional households over the next financial year, increasing the total number of households receiving help to 384,000.”
