To coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, electricity distributor Western Power Distribution has awarded grants to charities and organisations tackling loneliness and isolation.
Among the beneficiaries was Off The Record (Bath and North East Somerset), which was set up to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 10-25 years in Bath, North East Somerset and beyond.
The charity has been awarded £9,870 to deliver a youth café designed to support young people struggling with the mental health due to loneliness or isolation.
Phil Walters, Off the Record (OTR) Director said: “OTR is delighted to be working with Western Power Distribution and receiving funds through the Community Matters Fund to support the Okay Café.
“This crucial resource will go towards supporting hundreds of young people that need a safe place to connect with other young people, grow in confidence and have the chance to offer support to other peers.
“OTR provides thousands of young people with specialist 1-2-1 support, but the Okay Café is such a vital place for young people to connect with other young people in a supportive environment.
“Especially since the pandemic, we’ve got more and more young people desperately needing this support.”
Another Bath organisation benefiting from the funding is Bath Gateway Out and About, a provider of social activities for adults with learning disabilities, which has been awarded £7,100.
Western Power Distribution’s (WPD) grant will allow the organisation to support the local community with a project offering a variety of different social activities for its community.
Also supported is Trauma Breakthrough who will use their £9,920 grant to provide a range of activities and support programmes to help local people who have experienced trauma, to combat social isolation and provide new opportunities.
WPD’s Resources & External Affairs Director, Alison Sleightholm, said: “The pandemic, with its lockdowns and social distancing measures, has inevitably led to feelings of loneliness and isolation for some groups and people in Somerset.
“We’re pleased to be able to help tackle this growing issue by supporting charities who provide crucial interventions and help build better mental health – coinciding with Mental Health Awareness week, which this year is all about combatting loneliness.
“It’s great to see the first charities and organisations receive their grants. They are providing crucial care and that will make a real impact on local lives.”
WPD is the UK’s largest electricity distributor, responsible for delivering power to homes, businesses and vital services through its lines and cables in the South West, South Wales and the Midlands.
Its Community Matters Fund is paid for by the company’s shareholders and distributes £1 million a year.
