Wessex Water launches foundation to help those in need

Wessex Water has launched a multi-million-pound foundation, which will benefit people hit hardest by the Covid-19 crisis in its first year.

The Wessex Water Foundation is being run in partnership with the Quartet, Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset Community Foundations and is already prioritising those worst affected by the pandemic.

It will provide at least half a million pounds of funding every year to support community projects, debt advice and charities dealing with those suffering the consequences of poverty through poor mental and physical health, hunger, housing or unemployment.

Region-wide emergency funding will be awarded to groups on the frontline, including charities and foodbanks, while the Wessex Water Recovery Fund opens for local applications later this year to help respond to the challenging economic situation.

In addition, Wessex Water will also continue to support local environmental projects, supporting the ambition to rebuild communities with new green infrastructure.

‘We’re thrilled to be able to launch the Wessex Water Foundation alongside our friends in the community foundations in our patch,’ said Wessex Water’s chief executive, Colin Skellett.

‘Being at the heart of the communities we serve is nothing new for us, but the Wessex Water Foundation is a new way of making sure we’re helping the people who need it most.

‘It’s been an incredibly tough time for everyone in our region and supporting emergency coronavirus response projects is a fitting place to start.’

The interim chief executive of UK Community Foundations, Rosemary Macdonald, added: ‘We at UKCF would like to thank Wessex Water Foundation for all their help with the emergency coronavirus appeal.

‘It is great to see the Community Foundations in the Wessex region come together and work so successfully with one of our key employers. The Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset and Quartet foundations are working hard to distribute the funding provided by the Wessex Water Foundation to those most affected by Covid-19.’

Photo Credit – Kaboompics (Pixabay)