11:10, 08 January 2021
Words by Smiley Team, Staff Writer, London
Winter was tough and Covid-19 has only exacerbated hardship for those out of work and struggling financially. As we enter January, one of the coldest months of the year, many are having to choose between eating and heating. But in Bristol at least, things are looking up. The Bristol Energy Network (BEN) surpassed its fundraising target of £10,000 to cover energy costs for those most in need.
An umbrella organisation that links community groups across the city, BEN said on its fundraising page: “Imagine: your electricity goes off, the meals you've got to last a week perish. Children are off school, so you stay home. In the house, you need warmth, so you're using more energy. The school may have provided a laptop, but it has to be charged. You need the internet. You need energy. Right now, some people in Bristol are desperate. Let’s show them their city has not forgotten them.”
Under BEN’s banner, nine local organisations will distribute the funding for this project to the people they know are struggling with household costs. These organisations include resident-driven collectives striving to improve their local areas, social enterprises helping the community meet everyday needs and other Bristol groups dedicated to aiding the most vulnerable in society.
Among these is Ambition Lawrence Weston, a residents’ group that has distributed over 1000 food parcels to vulnerable people throughout the lockdowns. They’ve provided families with up to 500 meals over the summer holidays, taken over 100 families on day trips, organised internet access for young people, and distributed nearly £30,000 in emergency cash from the government to local families.
Lockleaze Neighbourhood Partnership, another of the residents’ groups involved, has distributed £30,000 in emergency funds to support 194 adults and 338 children. This provided families with internet access for education, winter clothing, and assistance paying bills and rent.
To donate visit their Just Giving crowd funder. £50 buys a fuel voucher, helping families to stay warm and healthy. £10 will cover an hour of electric heating every night for a month. A donation of just £5 is enough to run a fridge-freezer for four months. This small donation could also cover eight hours of daily internet use for three months or buy a dehumidifier for households suffering from damp.
For more information about BEN and its member organisations visit their website or email [email protected].
